Session Description:
Strategy is not a vision statement or project list. It is a set of deliberate choices that guide what we prioritize, what we stop, and how we execute.
This session builds a shared, practical definition of strategy, then translates it into everyday decision-making. We draw on Roger Martin's Play to Win (connected choices, capabilities, management systems), Michael Porter (tradeoffs, focus, what NOT to do), and a brief Blue Ocean lens for value innovation.
Angela Pause shows how these ideas appear in Advancement, including why choosing what we fundraise for is strategic and how "Why Waterloo?" creates alignment. Leilei Li presents the Engineering Advancement MarComm lens: how strategy becomes message discipline, channel choices, sequencing, and consistent storytelling that keeps teams aligned.
Learning Outcomes:
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Define strategy and distinguish it from goals or plans
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Explain why focus and tradeoffs matter
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Use "Why Waterloo?" as an alignment shortcut
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Recognize how strategy expresses across functions while staying aligned
Session Structure:
Lecture-style presentation with optional Q&A
Presenter:
Angela Pause (she/her), Senior Writer, Advancement - Engineering & Central
Leilei Li (she/her), Associate Director, Engineering Advancement Marketing