“ A must-read playbook for leaders navigating the AI revolution. Thoroughly recommended” Professor Martin Curley - Professor of Innovation at Maynooth University, former Director of Intel Labs and SVP at Mastercard Strategy as we’ve known it no longer exists. AI is re-writing the rules of competition, innovation and of business survival itself. This book navigates this new reality in a pragmatic way with actionable approaches that can defend/improve revenues, identify areas for growth, and transform your career through success in this most difficult of business environments. The book shows you practical steps to build and refine strategies that are better suited to an era where barriers to entry are dissolving and competitive advantage is harder than ever to create and sustain “Richard draws on an extraordinary career to reframe how leaders must think about competitive advantage in the age of AI. With clarity, candour, and deep expertise, he delivers a pragmatic framework for turning vision and innovation into execution. Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or new to building effective tools, this book belongs on your desk.” Steven E. Mueller - Former EVP, Optum (UnitedHealth Group) We begin by reframing AI not as some distant, optional extra, but as a force multiplier - a shift from automation to autonomy, where AI agents aren’t just assisting but acting on behalf of businesses. Through real-world examples (like healthcare and SaaS), we uncover the complex challenges AI introduces into decision-making, innovation, and execution. But you can’t navigate the new without first understanding the old - so we dive deep into the fundamentals of strategy. Most organizations talk strategy but don’t really understand it. That’s why it fails. This book breaks that down - demystifying vision, mission, corporate foresight, and core tools like SWOT, BCG, and Ansoff, but reimagined and re-tooled for a world in flux. We analyze how to make sense of your environment when AI reshapes what ‘competitive advantage’ even means . From flows instead of forces, to value networks replacing simple supply chains, we show you how to think differently - not just do differently. We also explore the essential shift from outdated models of disruption to dynamic capabilities , values-based innovation , and ambidextrous organizations that can exploit today while exploring tomorrow. Throughout, you’ll find dozens of insights, frameworks, and practical tools - including how to: Integrate AI strategically across the C-suite - Choose your strategic focus (and stick to it) - Rethink your business model for repeatability in an AI context - Spot and use disruption before it uses you - Navigate hypercompetition without burning out - Know when to boldly retreat to fight another day This isn’t about hype. It’s about survival - and beyond that, strategic transformation in the truest sense. Fast beats strong, alignment beats scale, and connectedness - across data, teams, technologies, and ecosystems — is the new currency of advantage. Whether you're a strategist, executive, innovator, or founder, this book offers the clarity, context, and concrete steps needed to weather and exploit the AI era. In the AI era, the map has changed. This book helps you navigate the new reality.