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How Sharon Spano Thinks About AI That Enhances You Instead of Replacing You
Episode 13125th February 2026 • How Leaders Think with Kenny Lange • Kenny Lange
00:00:00 00:47:10

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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

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