Biggest Challenges Faced by a Head of Strategic Planning at Monster Energy Company
Blake's biggest challenge as Head of Strategic Planning at Monster Energy is navigating the evolving data landscape, specifically "getting that confidence in the data" across an organization used to more instinctual decision-making. This involves simultaneously improving data analysis capabilities and effectively managing diverse stakeholders to ensure buy-in and alignment on strategic goals, overcoming the hurdle that "they can smile and nod...and then do whatever they want to do."
Data Analysis, Communication, Stakeholder Management, Leadership, Problem-Solving
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Blake Britten
Head of Strategic Planning
Monster Energy Company
University of Michigan, 2006
UCLA Anderson, MBA
Engineering - Industrial
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Food, Beverages & Alcohol
Business Strategy
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Data analysis and interpretation skills are crucial but can be limited by data availability and the need to build confidence in data-driven decision-making within the organization.
2. Effective communication and stakeholder management are essential for aligning diverse teams and gaining buy-in for strategic plans.
3. Overcoming siloed working and achieving alignment of goals across different teams is an ongoing challenge requiring thoughtful engagement and persuasion of stakeholders
Transcript
What are some of the biggest challenges in your current role?
Earlier, I mentioned three skills: communication, analytics, and instruments. Really, it's those last two. For communication, you largely control your own destiny.
However, with analytics, you're a bit at the whim of the data you have available. At Monster Energy, we're at an interesting inflection point. We're just now building data warehouses and back-end systems.
This allows us to use our internal data more effectively within business intelligence platforms. But with that comes supporting curves, trying to build confidence in the data across the organization.
Many business leaders have managed very instinctually throughout their careers. Influencing them through data and gaining their confidence is a challenge anyone working with data will face.
The other half is stakeholder management. This involves getting a diverse group of leaders and stakeholders, who are often working in their own silos, aligned to a common set of goals.
It's challenging to get buy-in because if you don't truly have it, they might nod and say yes, but then go off and do their own thing. Engaging stakeholders thoughtfully and aligning them to the right work is a daily challenge.