In this episode, we’re discussing “Gazing Up: Global Strategy from Local Roots,” based on a powerful metaphor by global strategist Sophie Krantz to redefine business strategy.
The piece looks at the Australian Space Agency’s logo. At first glance, it’s a satellite view of Australia, symbolising a ‘look down’ perspective. This is how many leaders operate: focused on local markets, domestic rivals, and immediate challenges. While detailed and manageable, this view can trap leaders in a comfort zone, causing them to misjudge international opportunities.
Yet the logo’s dots also form Indigenous star constellations, representing a ‘look up’ perspective. For thousands of years, Australia's first astronomers used the stars for navigation and survival. In business today, ‘looking up’ means using global signals - like new technologies, demographic shifts, and innovation hubs - as modern constellations to guide strategy. This isn't about abstract vision, but about practical leverage to set smarter priorities.
To help leaders apply this, the article introduces the ‘Ladder Upwards’ framework, which assesses a company's global maturity from ‘Globally Absent’ (stuck in survival mode) to ‘Globally Impactful’ (shaping global standards).
The good news is that looking up is easier than ever. Old barriers like physical offices and high compliance costs are being replaced by modern enablers like AI-powered data platforms, remote talent, and cloud-based workflows.
The ultimate message is to hold both perspectives at once: be grounded in local realities while being guided by global patterns. By looking up, leaders can see the bigger picture needed to play a smarter game.
Read the article by Sophie Krantz here:
https://www.sophiekrantz.com/p/shifting-gaze
