The BIG Strategy Podcast

In this episode, I revisit a pattern that’s easy to miss in moments of rapid innovation: we tend to underestimate how quickly categories collapse.What started as a simple exploration of Claude Design turned into something else. Not a product review, but a strategic question. What happens when entire layers of software stop competing and start merging?Because the shift isn’t about better tools. It’s about fewer of them.We’ve seen this before. Markets that looked stable until they weren’t. Products that felt essential until they became features. And leaders who focused on optimization while the structure underneath them changed.This episode explores a different lens on what many are calling the “SaaSpocalypse,” and what it signals for how software is being rebuilt in the AI era:00:32 - Why AI-native tools compress entire software categories01:48 - What Claude Design actually represents beyond the product02:37 - The shift from standalone tools to integrated capabilities04:12 - Why feature bundling is becoming a strategic advantage05:26 - What past disruptions reveal about what’s coming next06:31 - Where most companies are misreading the shift07:18 - Why this may not be a competition problem, but a positioning one08:04 - What happens when software stops looking like software08:52 - The real question leaders should be asking nowSubscribe to The BIG Strategy Podcast for more conversations on leadership, growth, and AI strategy.Connect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com

In this episode, I revisit a core idea that many leaders take for granted: that dominance lasts.After publishing a piece comparing NVIDIA to Intel, I went back to stress-test my own thinking not to prove it right, but to see where it breaks. What I found wasn’t a reversal, but a deeper layer of strategy that most of us overlook. Because the real risk isn’t always where we think it is.We often talk about moats, lock-in, and competitive advantage as if they’re fixed. But history tells a different story. Companies fade. Architectures persist. And sometimes, the real moat isn’t position, it’s velocity.This episode explores three shifts that can change how you think about strategy in the AI era:00:29 - Why platform lock-in feels permanent until it isn’t01:54 - What Jensen Huang sees in history that most miss02:24 - The critical distinction between company and architecture04:45 - How Intel really lost and what leaders misread05:42 - NVIDIA’s “speed of light” principle and why velocity may be the true moat06:42 - Rethinking competitive advantage beyond position07:10 - Why this may not be a market share game at all08:07 - What happens when the “center” of a market doesn’t exist yet09:05 - The real job of a strategist: test, refine, adaptSubscribe to The BIG Strategy Podcast for more conversations on leadership, growth, and AI strategy.Connect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com

What does it truly mean to live a good life? Charles Lee, entrepreneur and author of "Designing Your Good Life," joins Jeff to explore his three-phase framework for intentional living. Drawing from 17 years of entrepreneurship and extensive research dating back to Aristotle, Charles reveals how meaningful relationships and purposeful contribution form the foundation of fulfillment. This conversation will challenge you to reclaim your human agency in an AI-driven world.In this episode, we explore:(01:32) What prompted Charles to write this book(02:52) Two key elements of a good life(04:43) Breaking down the three-component framework(05:57) Understanding the spark phase and curiosity(08:57) Moving from spark to actualization phase(10:32) Creating value and building real confidence(13:33) Balancing value delivery with fair pricing(19:39) Sharing wisdom with the next generation(22:45) Where to start with the framework(29:01) Protecting human agency in the AI ageConnect with Charles Lee on LinkedIn"Designing Your Good Life" by Charles Lee"Good Idea Now What?" by Charles LeeConnect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com

In this episode, I reflect on something that has the power to reshape how we lead, build, and live: the idea of legacy.Not as something distant or reserved for the end of a career, but as something we are actively creating every day. This final part of a three-part reflection on my father is rooted in gratitude, perspective, and a deeper appreciation for what it really means to have an impact on others.It’s a reminder that what we pass on isn’t just knowledge, it’s wisdom. And wisdom doesn’t come from what we say, it comes from how we show up. The way we lead, the way we make decisions, the way we treat people in the moments that seem small but matter most.When you start to see legacy this way, it changes how you think about the future. It brings clarity to what you’re building and why. It connects ambition with intention, and progress with purpose.This episode explores how grounding our future in the values and lessons that shaped us can lead to more meaningful decisions, stronger leadership, and a more lasting impact:00:59 - A personal reflection that redefines what impact really means03:23 - Why wisdom, not just knowledge, is what carries forward04:20 - Rethinking how we approach future-back strategy06:50 - Aligning execution with purpose09:08 - Making choices you can stand behind10:05 - Connecting past-forward thinking with future direction14:20 - A moment that captures what legacy looks like in real life15:45 - A closing reflection on building something that lastsIf this resonates, consider sharing it with someone who has shaped your journey.Subscribe to The BIG Strategy Podcast for more conversations on leadership, strategy, and growth.Connect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com

In this episode, I reflect on a foundational idea in leadership: we do not build alone.Every opportunity, perspective, and step forward is shaped by the people who came before us. Recognizing this is more than an act of gratitude, it’s a shift in how we understand responsibility.Because over time, that dynamic evolves. As we grow, we also become the foundation for others. Teams, clients, and communities begin to rely on our judgment, our decisions, and our direction.This episode explores what it means to move from being supported to becoming the support and how that awareness reshapes leadership, accountability, and long-term impact.In this episode, I explore:00:38 - Recognizing the shoulders you stand on02:12 - The transition from being supported to supporting others03:45 - The weight of responsibility in leadership05:20 - Reframing pressure as privilege06:58 - A personal reflection on this shift08:32 - How this perspective shapes leadership decisions10:05 - Building with legacy in mind11:28 - A closing reflection on responsibility and impactIf this episode resonates, consider sharing it with someone who has been part of your journey.Subscribe to The BIG Strategy Podcast for more conversations on leadership, strategy, and growth.Connect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com

In this episode, I reflect on one of the most important lessons I learned from my father: generosity.We often think of generosity as something soft, something separate from strategy. I see it differently. I believe generosity is foundational to how we lead, build relationships, and create long-term value.But I’ve also experienced the downside. When generosity lacks boundaries, it can lead to burnout, misalignment, and difficult leadership trade-offs. This episode is about navigating that tension and how to give in a way that is both human and sustainable.In this episode, I explore:00:44 – Why I see generosity as a strategic advantage 02:48 – The role of human connections03:59 – The Boomerang Concept04:17 – My own experience with over-giving and burnout06:15 – Why generosity without boundaries doesn’t work07:39 – How generosity, when applied well, can shift culture and performance11:00 – Why generosity needs systems to scale12:06 – How I now think about where and how I giveGenerosity matters. But the real work is learning where to give, how to give, and when to hold the line.If this resonates, share it with someone who’s thinking about leadership, culture, or growth.And if you’re reflecting on your own approach to generosity, I’d love to hear your perspective.Subscribe now and join me for the journey.Connect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com

Season 7 of The BIG Strategy Podcast begins with a different kind of conversation.After a personal loss and a period of reflection, this season shifts inward exploring strategy not just as a business discipline, but as something deeply human.In this teaser, I share the story behind that shift and introduce the three themes that will shape the opening episodes: generosity, standing on the shoulders of others, and leaving a legacy.This season is more personal. More intentional. And more focused on the principles that guide how we build, lead, and live.If you’re thinking about the kind of impact you want to create in your work and beyond, this season is for you.Subscribe now and join me for the journey.Connect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com

Writer and educator Larry Rand, alongside his son Chris Rand, brings to life the untold story of their ancestor Leigh Hunt, an overlooked but extraordinary adventurer and entrepreneur from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Tune in to this candid conversation uncover Hunt’s globe-trotting exploits, strategic genius, and the impact of legacy on family and business.In this episode, we explore:(00:00) The inspiration behind writing about Leigh Hunt(09:14) Leigh Hunt’s global journey(14:39) Life of a global pioneer(23:42) Creating synergies for shared success(29:27) Resilience amid tragedy and struggle(39:31) Daring mine confrontation(46:56) Japan vs. Russia: Roosevelt’s dinner debate(49:17) Hunt’s timeless, informed analysis(57:47) Exploring Sudan’s plantation history(01:02:09) Diverse pursuits and innovation(01:10:20) Mercurial decision-making and downfall(01:13:42) Roosevelt, Hunt, and Brazil adventures(01:18:44) Visionary resilience in Las Vegas(01:23:44) Hoover connection and land projectTheodore Roosevelt and the Rise of America to World Power by Howard K. BealeHigh Stakes: The Life and Times of Leigh S.J. Hunt by Larry RandConnect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com

Jennifer Caleshu is a leadership communications expert, executive coach, and faculty director at the Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute, with deep ties to the Haas School of Business. In this episode, Jennifer joins Jeff Eyet to dive into the power of storytelling in business, how leaders build trust, and practical strategies for authentic, memorable communication – whether pitching, presenting, or leading teams.In this episode, we explore:(05:55) Leading authentically through story(09:34) Tuning your message to the audience(12:10) Knowing and inspiring your audience(16:26) The hidden power of nonverbal cues(18:57) Simple strategies for better communication(23:08) Owning your expertise with confidence(24:03) How to know your audience and share with ease(28:21) Final insights on storytelling and connectionConnect with Jennifer Caleshu on LinkedInConnect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com 

Dave Rochlin is a leading expert in design thinking, corporate innovation and entrepreneurship, blending practical experience with academic insight from teaching at HAAS. In this episode, Dave joins host Jeff Eyet to break down how to determine if an idea is worth pursuing, validate its potential, navigate pivots and avoid common innovation pitfalls – sharing hard-won strategies for real-world business growth.In this episode, we explore:(05:43) Customer-centric value creation(07:01) Navigating pivoting and sunk costs(10:07) Innovation strategy funnel(13:49) Beyond data, observing real behaviors(18:50) Focused discovery and validation process(20:16) Market sizing and validation steps(25:14) Creating effective problem-solving hypotheses(27:43) Embracing trial and error(29:16) Creative data-driven decision making(37:41) Startup pivot dynamics(39:08) Strategic pivoting explainedConnect with Dave Rochlin on LinkedInConnect with Jeff Eyet on LinkedIn Follow The Berkeley Innovation Group Download The BIG Strategy Playbook for FREESubscribe to The Berkeley Innovation Group Youtube Channel Find out more about The Berkeley Innovation Group: www.biginnovates.com