Gurulocity Logo

How to Write a Strategic Plan Training Workshop

Learn to Write a Strategic Plan That Moves Your Brand Forward

All great businesses need clear direction to guide the work of the organization. Without a clear long-term strategy, resources can easily be wasted on the wrong tasks and activities, and limited budgets may not be invested in the right projects. If you are a brand or business leader, strategic planning is a mission-critical skill.

In this hands-on in-person training workshop, you will master the skills needed to write a long-term strategic plan for your brand or business that outlines long-term objectives, lays out clear strategic choices, and guides your organization’s marketing and operations projects to deliver on your vision. Your team will leave with a best-in-class skillset so they can be better strategic partners.

November 10, 2021, 9am-4:30pm

Location (Cincinnati): COhatch, 5325 Deerfield Blvd., Mason OH 45040

Reserve My Seat

Who It's For

  • ABMs, Brand and Marketing Managers, and Directors who own/write/update/implement strategic plans for a brand or business unit
  • CxOs (e.g., CEO, CMO, COO, CFO) who collaborate on an overall company/corporate strategy
  • Small business owners and startup founders seeking to set long-term strategy to grow their business

How You Will Benefit

  • Learn the strategic planning processes that major companies use to take share and lead in the marketplace
  • Quickly create a strategic plan, even if you don't have one to start with or have never written one before
  • Clearer strategy enables your business to focus resources on only the projects that further your business goals
  • Gain practice in writing strategic frameworks, making your own strategies and storytelling presentations stronger
  • Secure internal alignment on strategic objectives and related action plans
  • Advance your career by leading your business at the highest levels
  • Case studies and best-practice frameworks and templates to immediately implement in your business

What's In It—Workshop Agenda

  • What is a Strategic Plan? 
    • Definition, fundamental purpose, and types of strategic plans
    • The strategic planning cycle
    • High-level examples of strategic plans (one pagers)
  • Strategic Plan Format
    • Traditional structure
    • Improved recommended format
    • Recommended outline for Strategic Plan presentation
  • The Homework You Should Do
    • Key elements of a situational analysis
    • Framework for organizing your analysis
    • Questions to ask when gathering and analyzing data
  • Common Strategic Models
    • SWOT, 5 Forces, linear, two-ways, impact vs. feasibility, growth/share matrix, waterfall builds, decision criteria grids
  • What’s the Vision? 
    • Differences between visions, objectives and goals
    • Questions and considerations for good visions
    • Examples of good visions, objectives and goals
    • Working case study exercise—try it (in teams)
  • Key Business Issues
    • Process for unearthing key issues
    • Questions and considerations to help uncover issues and opportunities
    • Good and bad examples of key issues and opportunities
    • Working case study exercise—try it (in teams)
  • Strategies
    • Dos and don’ts for selecting good strategies
    • Questions and considerations to help uncover strategic options
    • Good and bad examples of strategies
    • Working case study exercise—try it (in teams)
  • Initiatives/Actions
    • Best practices for breaking down strategies into initiatives
    • How to prioritize between potential initiatives
    • Good examples of initiatives/actions
    • Working case study exercise—try it (in teams)
  • Progress Roadmap
    • How to select financial progress metrics/goals
    • How to quantify the value of a project
    • How to create a financial roadmap (example tables and charts)
    • Working case study exercises—try it (in teams)

    Extras from Gurulocity include both real and fictional case studies that bring concepts to life, real-time group creation and practice with instructor feedback, and best-practice templates and worksheets for strategic planning.

    Reserve My Seat

    Full-day Workshop Schedule

    Date: November 10, 2021
    Location (Cincinnati): COhatch, 5325 Deerfield Blvd., Mason OH 45040

    9am-12pm  Workshop Session Part 1
    12-1pm         Lunch
    1-4:30pm    Workshop Session Part 2
    4:30pm       Workshop Ends

    Workshop Tuition

    $897 per person covers all food/drink/snacks, facility, instructor fee and workshop materials.

    Enrollment Deadline

    This workshop is limited to only 15 attendees. Registration officially closes on November 5, 2021 or when seats run out. Be sure to sign up early to secure your spot.

    Reserve My Seat

    Meet Your Instructor

    Kevin Namaky is the Chief Executive Offer of the Gurulocity Brand Management Institute. During his 20 years as a Brand & Innovation Director and as SVP Head of Strategy at a global brand strategy and innovation consulting firm, he created billions in new value for companies through winning strategic plans, new product innovation, and compelling marketing campaigns. A trained educator, he's taught in classrooms, workshops, conferences and boardrooms.

    Kevin created winning brand strategies, innovation, and training sessions for numerous companies including Scotts Miracle-Gro, Procter & Gamble, Kraft, Bolthouse Farms, Kimberly-Clark, Formica, Gorilla Brands, Ubisoft and Nestlé. Kevin is also a featured instructor for the American Marketing Association, lectures at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, and has been featured in Ad Age, Forbes, Fast Company and the CMO Council.

    What Others Say

    Kevin's ability to translate complexity into simple, easy-to-understand strategy was a huge asset to our team.VP/General Manager, Scotts Miracle-Gro
    This was a great day. 10 out of 10!Marketing Director, Bolthouse Farms
    Using the frameworks from the training, our teams' presentations have greatly improved, with senior staff giving very positive feedback.Senior Marketing Director, Ubisoft
    I thoroughly enjoyed this training. Kevin provided great outlines and ideas that I will take back to work and incorporate into our business. He nailed it. Great class!Assistant Marketing Manager, Formica

    How to Enroll

    Workshop seats are limited. Simply click the button below to reserve your spot.

    Reserve My Seat

    Cancellation Policy

    If you wish to cancel your reservation, you must submit your request in writing. Cancellation charges and refunds depend upon when you submit your request.

    Cancellation requests submitted 29 calendar days or more before the workshop date will receive a full refund minus a $25 administrative fee. Requests received between 15 and 28 calendar days before the event will receive a 50% refund minus a $25 administrative fee. Cancellation requests received 14 days or less in advance (and no-shows) are non-refundable.

    If you can no longer attend but wish to transfer your seat to a colleague, contact us in writing before the workshop date and we will accommodate you.

    We reserve the right to cancel or postpone the event due to unforeseen circumstances. If so, all fees paid will be reimbursed in full.