How Sharon Spano Thinks About AI That Enhances You Instead of Replacing You
What does it take to pivot when things are going well—but the world (and your work) is changing fast? In this episode of How Leaders Think, Kenny Lange talks with Dr. Sharon Spano, founder of Spano & Company, about strategic planning that actually gets implemented, leading through uncertainty, and building the ability to adapt without drifting. They unpack why long-range planning still matters, how leaders can cut through the noise, and what accountability looks like when execution is the real challenge. Sharon also shares how she’s used AI as a thought partner to gain clarity and make better decisions without outsourcing her discernment.
Listen on Other Platforms
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-leaders-think-with-kenny-lange/id1434737807
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wKtzb6KaF1vNlG9TsZkzh
Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy50cmFuc2lzdG9yLmZtL2tlZXAtcmlzaW5nLXdpdGgta2VubnktbGFuZ2U=
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b13c5d64-50db-4626-9685-c356116ec54b
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KennyLange/podcasts
Website: https://howleadersthink.kennylange.com/
Sharon Spano Resources
Website: https://sharonspano.com
Podcast Appearances: https://sharonspano.com/podcast-appearances/
Books Mentioned
The Pursuit of Time and Money (Dr. Sharon Spano): https://amzn.to/4tQXYnT
Chapters
00:00 - Cold open: AI as thought partner
00:55 - Welcome & Sharon Spano intro
01:30 - What’s on Sharon’s mind now
01:40 - Rebranding and pivoting a podcast
02:45 - When to pivot even if it’s working
03:10 - Big pivots: travel, market shifts, COVID
04:25 - Strategic planning changed after COVID
05:35 - Planning horizons: 3 years vs 10 years
08:10 - Vision, values, and getting to metrics
09:10 - Why most strategic plans fail
10:35 - Busy work vs real impact
12:20 - Too many meetings: redesigning cadence
13:05 - Accountability that drives execution
16:25 - Using AI for analysis and clarity
18:20 - Sharon’s new podcast and calling
21:05 - A first step to handle change better
44:25 - Where to find Sharon & closing
Hashtags
#HowLeadersThink #LeadershipDevelopment #StrategicPlanning #ChangeManagement