
There is foundational strategy, risk, and resilience knowledge that every leader, manager, and board director needs to understand.
"Training is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think."
- Albert Einstein
The Essential Strategy Core Series is a set of courses that teach a simplified yet holistic approach for the integration of strategy, risk and resilience competencies.
Strategy is simply a plan.
Risk is simply uncertainty.
Resilience is the outcome of the resulting balance between risk and strategy.
These are not independent concepts – they are parts of a larger whole and are inexorably tangled up when we talk about creating organizational success at any level.
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Strategy design is more robust when we identify and incorporate the right risk perspectives - this is not just SWOT!
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Risk is more focused, efficient and meaningful when we align with strategic priorities - this is what we really mean by enterprise risk.
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Resilience is only achieved when we understand what the organization needs in order to thrive – risk and strategy feed this, but it also requires a deep understanding of purpose.
These concepts may feel intuitive to a seasoned leader, but it is easier said than done. Inefficient decision processes, divergent risk perspectives, unanticipated impact to strategic goals and frequent or radical course adjustments are indicative of internal systems that are misaligned and lack focus.
There are critical elements of strategy and risk programming that must flow across the entire organization and be understood with equal clarity by all contributing to the function of the entity. When we identify these “mission critical” threads, then we are able to trace them through and prioritize them above others.
The issues described above exist at the functional management level as well, just on a smaller scale. Just as we wouldn’t attempt to eat entire blueberry pie in one bite, we cannot align the organization from a single point.
We find clear direction from the top that establishes a system and framework that can be used function by function, department by department and subsidiary by subsidiary in order to create alignment up, down and across the organization.
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This is a better way.
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Essential Strategy

“Black Fox Strategy, LLC is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. This program is valid for [XX] PDCs for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.”

2021 Schedule Coming Soon!
Essential Strategy 101 - Essential Strategy Foundations
Creating a Balanced Approach to Purpose, Growth & Survival
Classroom + Workshop
This course is designed for those who are new to the Essential Strategy approach and/or who are new to strategic planning and risk planning in general and want to have a better understanding of these critical functions within the organization; those who want to learn how to create or improve their current strategic planning process; and those who want to understand how they can better integrate risk and resilience planning into a strategic planning process. This course is applicable to all types and sizes of organizations and all levels of experience. All of our training sessions may be attended in-person or via live stream.
2021 Schedule Coming Soon!
Essential Strategy 102 - Essential Strategy Blueprint
Improving Performance through Gap Assessments & Active Planning
Classroom + Workshop
This course is designed for those who have completed the Essential Strategy Foundations course and want to gain deeper understanding of gap assessment and performance improvement techniques. This course is applicable to all types and sizes of organizations with established risk/strategy programs in place and/or those who are looking to mature/expand their existing programs. All of our training sessions may be attended in-person or via live stream.
2021 Schedule Coming Soon!
Essential Strategy 103 - Essential Strategy For Boards & Councils
Learning to govern better through a balanced approach to Purpose, Growth & Survival
Classroom + Workshop
This course is designed specifically for Board Directors and Tribal Councils who want to gain a deeper or broader understanding of governance from a Purpose, Growth & Survival foundation. This course is applicable to Boards & Council members from all types and sizes of organizations and all levels of experience. All of our training sessions may be attended in-person or via live stream.