In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Beckman, Chief Strategy Officer of Ulteig.
Ulteig specialized in infrastructure solutions across power, renewables, transportation, and water. Sarah is an experienced structural engineer, shedesigning energy systems spanning the continental U.S., and also spent time in sales before moving into her current role leading corporate strategy. Her deep technical roots give her a unique perspective on solving complex problems and leading transformation in a traditionally slow-moving, high-stakes industry. Today, she’s focused on preparing Ulteig—and the entire sector—for an era defined by AI, electrification, and the race to build faster than ever before. Sarah brings a powerful systems-thinking lens to transformation in one of the most critical—and traditionally slow-moving—sectors: energy infrastructure.

Things we’ll cover in this conversation:

• How to drive innovation inside mission-critical industries where the cost of failure is high
• Why aligning strategy to purpose and stakeholder value is key to building urgency without panic
• How Sarah applied engineering skills to transform a sales strategy and sunset a commoditized offering
• What CSOs can do to prepare for industry-wide disruption—from AI demands to a nuclear energy renaissance
• The leadership behaviors and organizational systems that actually make strategy stick

Whether you're preparing to pivot, wrestling with internal resistance, or rethinking how to build a transformation-ready culture—this episode is packed with practical wisdom from the front lines.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
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• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
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• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

Today, we are tackling a topic that holding back most organizations from adapting to our rapidly changing business environments, a topic rooted in a habit that is so engrained in most companies that we don’t even think about changing it: budgeting.

In this episode, we sit down with Eric Woodard, Head of Strategy at Primerica and former Bain consultant, to unpack the future of agile budgeting. Eric shares why the old model—locking budgets 12 months in advance—is no longer viable in a world shaped by digital disruption, economic volatility, and shifting priorities. He lays out a practical, compelling alternative: treat strategy as a living, breathing guide for capital allocation.

We explore:
- Why companies are being forced—not just encouraged—to rethink budgeting cycles
- The key difference between "run the business" and "change the business" spend
- How to structure dynamic, strategy-led funding pools
- What cycle times and KPIs work in an agile budgeting environment
- Why people—not systems—are the biggest barrier to change

Whether you're navigating growth, transformation, or efficiency, this episode will give you the tools to align your budget with your boldest strategic ambitions.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

If you’re a strategy leader stepping into M&A or refining your inorganic growth strategy, there’s one relationship that can either propel you forward or hold you back: your relationship with investment bankers. In this episode, we dive deep into the often opaque world of investment banking with two strategy executives who’ve worked across both sides of the deal table.

Together, our guests bring more than 40 years of combined experience across investment banking, M&A strategy, and corporate development—having led acquisitions and divestitures in both public and private companies, across industries and borders.

Michael Arlotto is the Global Head of Corporate Development and Ventures at Kenvue, an American consumer health company and the proprietor of many brands you’ve heard of, like Band-Aid, Benadryl, Neutrogena and Tylenol.

Chris Nuttall is the Executive Vice President of Corporate Development at Bazaarvoice, an American tech company that helps brands collect and leverage UGC, which stands for user-generated content.

Together, the three of us explore:

- How to assess and build the right relationship with an investment banker
- What “transformative M&A” really means—and how to pull it off
- The soft skills and cultural fit that matter just as much as deal terms
- How to avoid M&A regret by starting with strategy and ending with integration
- Why successful M&A is less about buying a company—and more about buying into a multiyear business plan

Whether you’re planning your first acquisition or fine-tuning your approach to external growth, this episode will help you build stronger partnerships, avoid costly missteps, and execute deals that deliver long-term value.

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks
• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks

• Learn more about Outthinker's community of chief strategy officers - https://outthinkernetwork.com/
• Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/outthinker-networks