Incremental Edge

In this episode of the Incremental Edge, Emma speaks with Roger Longden, founder of There Be Giants, a consultancy supporting organisations that want to turn strategy into action through OKRs. Roger works with businesses from ambitious 60-person teams to 20,000-person global corporates, and he shares what they all have in common when it comes to execution, alignment and accountability. They discuss why annual planning cycles no longer keep pace with reality, how shorter cycles help leaders course-correct, and why “spotlighting” creates real strategic focus. Roger also explains the relationship between OKRs and KPIs, the part psychological safety plays in making OKRs work, and the early pitfalls leaders fall into when they try to implement OKRs alone. If you’re an MD, CFO or operational leader who wants more agility, clearer priorities and better outcomes, this episode offers practical steps you can take straightaway. Follow the conversation on: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u-IlwKISLE  🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0zcaM5eYG6MvbldHkOAg1q  🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-okr-effect-how-outcome-focus-transforms-strategy/id1822520873?i=1000739310707  Read: Episode Shownotes & Key Takeaways: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/okr-effect-how-outcome-focus-transforms-strategy-execution-datel-gmlwe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&utm_campaign=share_via  Read on Datel Blog: The OKR Effect: Why outcome focus improves strategic execution  Connect with the speakers: Emma Pownall - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/emmapownall Emma Pownall is Marketing Director at Datel.  Roger Longden - https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rogerlongden Roger Longden is the founder of There Be Giants https://therebegiants.com/ Incremental Edge is a Datel podcast: For more insights from Datel https://datel.info/insights

Team GB is a non-profit funded entirely by sponsorship - which means finance has to work differently. In this episode of The Incremental Edge, CFO Sarah Wallace joins host Emma Pownall to share how small, practical changes have shifted her finance team from admin to true business partners. Sarah explains how technology freed her team from manual work, why mobile purchase order approvals cleared a 12-year backlog, and how building everyday relationships across the organisation is changing the perception of finance. She also shares how better data on sponsorship margins is shaping smarter conversations, and why cash management is always front of mind in a sponsor-funded model. In this episode: What makes Team GB’s finance model unique The small wins that transformed ways of working Finance as a trusted partner, not just a back-office function Data that drives better sponsorship and cash decisions One small action leaders can take this week Watch the conversation on: ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcw8nmtwusw 📝 Datel Insights Blog: [link] Read the ShowNotes & key takeaways: [LINK] 🔗 Connect with the speakers: Emma Pownall →  https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmapownall Sarah Wallace →  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-wallace-53b64053 Learn more about Team GB: https://www.teamgb.com/ Incremental Edge is a podcast by Datel: https://datel.info/ 

What if your boardroom was more than a decision-making table.  What if it was the blueprint for culture and performance? In this episode of The Incremental Edge, Emma Pownall is joined by Louise Stephenson, Partner at LCAP Group and founder of the Empowering Women in Business community. Louise advises founders and private equity-backed businesses on building leadership teams that deliver real value. They discuss: The three types of diversity that matter most Why cognitive variety beats "groupthink" How board composition shapes culture and future hires The simple questions leaders should ask before their next appointment Whether you’re a CFO, MD or senior leader, you’ll come away with clear, practical ideas to build stronger, more effective leadership teams. PACE™ is a behavioural evaluation tool that benchmarks leaders against archetypes developed based on over 12,000 profiles to show how high-performing teams think and act. 

“Digital transformation” often sounds like disruption, risk, and cost. But what if there’s a smarter, more sustainable approach? In this episode of The Incremental Edge, host Emma Pownall sits down with Tim Purcell, R&D Director at Datel, to explore the idea of digital evolution - making incremental, people-first changes that deliver momentum and value over time. Tim shares 35 years of experience helping businesses embrace technology with confidence, agility, and clarity. Whether you’re a CFO, MD, or CEO, this episode will help you rethink your digital strategy. Connect with the speakers: Emma Pownall → https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmapownall/ Tim Purcell → https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-purcell/ Show Notes: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/digital-evolution-smarter-path-business-growth-datel-pa4ve 

Private Equity (PE) explained: Join our expert panel as they share essential insights for CFOs navigating the PE investment journey. In this comprehensive discussion hosted by Emma Pownall, you'll discover:  The fundamentals of private equity and how it works  A CFO's firsthand perspective through the complete investment cycle  Practical strategies for first-time CFOs to attract investment  Critical focus areas for your first 100 days and beyond  Managing the transition from stability to growth-focused operations  Finance team priorities for maximising exit value  This conversation brings together industry experts to provide CFOs and finance leaders with actionable insights at every stage of the private equity process - from initial interest through successful exit.