Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Baker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Megan, thanks for joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

The name Think Strategically came to life after a career-defining conversation. Shortly after I left my corporate role as Chief Marketing Officer in late 2023, a mentor reached out to me. She’d just stepped into a new leadership position, managing a massive team. Her challenge?

“I love my team, but they’re not strategic. They’re stuck in the weeds, checking boxes instead of driving real client growth. It’s holding us back from achieving the growth we need as a company. I know you’ve helped your teams shift to a more strategic approach—I need you to help mine.”

That conversation hit home. Over my 23 years in corporate leadership, I’d seen this pattern play out time and again: incredibly talented, hardworking people stuck in reactive, tactical modes of working. They were crossing tasks off their lists, but without a clear strategic direction, it felt like treading water rather than swimming forward.

What’s more, I’d discovered that this wasn’t a personal failing—it was a learned behavior. Company cultures often unintentionally train employees to stay in a reactive mode, focusing on short-term wins over long-term vision. On top of that, most organizations don’t provide meaningful training in strategic thinking.

Research backs this up. A 2015 study by George Washington University (Goldman, Scott, and Follman) found that “organizations make limited use of the range of approaches to develop strategic thinking, many indirectly supporting its development via general leadership programs. Most approaches are experimental and focused on elites. Use of the literature, evaluation, and ties to competency models are very limited.”

This gap in leadership development stuck with me. While many companies offer training on managing people, creating inclusive cultures, or boosting productivity, they rarely teach the foundational skill of strategic thinking. And without it, both employees and organizations can struggle to grow.

I saw this transformation firsthand with one of my team members. She started as a tactical manager, focused on the day-to-day demands of her role. Over time, with coaching and guidance, she adopted a strategic approach to leading. The result? She went on to lead departments at two different companies—an incredible career leap.

I’d been fortunate to gain exposure to strategic analysis through my MBA in strategy, but I quickly realized that most of my team members hadn’t had the same opportunity. Still, when they began learning to think strategically—connecting the dots between big-picture vision, adaptability, and empathy—it was incredible to see the transformation. Their performance grew stronger, they moved beyond simply checking boxes, and they started driving the business forward while finding greater fulfillment in their roles.

That’s why I created Think Strategically: to fill this gap. By helping ambitious leaders move from tactical to strategic thinking, I empower them to deliver value at a higher level—unlocking growth for their teams, their companies, and their careers.

It all started with my mentor’s challenge, but it was years of watching strategic thinking transform people that truly inspired the name. I wanted something that encapsulated the mindset shift and career acceleration I help others achieve. The name Think Strategically felt perfect—because when you do, everything changes.

Imagine what your team—or you—could achieve if you shifted to a strategic approach. A strategic mind is an unstoppable mind.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Megan, the CEO and founder of Think Strategically. After spending 23 years in corporate leadership, I decided to channel my passion for helping people grow in their careers and solving complex problems into building a business that focuses on leadership transformation. My career journey included roles such as Chief Marketing Officer, Head of Customer Experience, and Head of Brand Marketing at Fortune 100 companies, where I saw firsthand the struggles many talented individuals face when it comes to adopting strategic leadership.

Think Strategically bridges the gap for aspiring and ambitious leaders, helping them transition from tactical, reactive problem-solving to strategic, proactive leadership. We offer personalized and group-based coaching programs designed to empower leaders to think strategically, make confident decisions, and lead with influence, adaptability, and empathy. Here’s how we can help:

-1:1 Coaching: Personalized coaching tailored to your unique needs, designed to develop key leadership and strategic competencies that drive growth and impact.

-Group Coaching (Launching Q1 2025): Engaging 8-week programs that focus on learning and practicing the five core strategic leadership competencies. For job seekers, we offer a specialized program to help reposition yourself for your next role.

-Team Training (Coming Soon): A comprehensive training curriculum to help teams adopt and apply five core strategic leadership competencies for improved collaboration and results. (IDEAS Framework© Competencies: Influence, Decisive Decisions, Empathy, Adaptability & Agility, and Strategic Analysis)

What sets Think Strategically apart is our focus on simplifying the complex and turning theory into action. We guide leaders to shift how they approach challenges and opportunities, unlocking growth for themselves, their teams, and their organizations.

I’m especially proud of how our coaching has transformed careers. Clients have gained confidence to drive change, anticipate their leader’s needs, broaden their networks, and position themselves for bigger challenges. Watching these breakthroughs inspires everything I do.

Strategic thinking is often reserved for senior leaders or overlooked in training programs, leaving many mid-career professionals feeling stuck. At Think Strategically, we make strategic problem-solving accessible to everyone, helping leaders break free from tactical routines and reach their full potential.

For me, this business is deeply personal. It was inspired by my own experiences struggling to balance tactical execution with strategic leadership—and later learning how transformative it is when you master that balance. Imagine what your team or career could achieve with a strategic approach. A strategic mind is an unstoppable mind, and I’m here to help my clients unlock that potential.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been a three-step approach: validating my services, building authority, and offering accessible entry points.

First, I focused on validating the need for my services. While the idea for Think Strategically was inspired by a mentor’s advice and my own experiences, I needed to confirm its scalability. I connected with people in my target market through networking lunches, LinkedIn messages, and virtual chats to test the idea. Nearly everyone I spoke with recognized the need for a strategic approach at work, and many wanted to learn more. That validation showed me I was addressing a real gap in the market.

Next, I worked on attracting the right clients by establishing authority in the strategic leadership space. Consistently sharing valuable content has been my most effective strategy. I post organic content 2-3 times a week, focusing on the five core strategic leadership competencies that help leaders move from tactical to strategic thinking. Since stories resonate most, I often share personal experiences—lessons learned from my mistakes and successes—and examples of how these principles have transformed my leadership journey.

Finally, to make strategic thinking accessible, I introduced an affordable entry point: a 3-session coaching package for $300. This offering helps potential clients experience the value of coaching without a large commitment. For many, it’s been a gateway to deeper transformation, as most of these clients transition into more comprehensive coaching packages.

By validating the need, demonstrating value, and making coaching approachable, I’ve been able to grow Think Strategically while staying true to its mission.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

LinkedIn has been the most effective source of new clients for Think Strategically. The leaders who benefit most from coaching often use LinkedIn to network, explore career opportunities, and engage with leadership content. It’s where they turn for inspiration and insights, making it the perfect platform to connect with them.

I currently manage two LinkedIn profiles: my personal page and the Think Strategically company page. Until now, the content on both has been similar, but in 2025, I’ll take a more tailored approach. My personal page will focus on building authority through thought leadership—sharing stories, insights, and tips that resonate with mid-career leaders. Meanwhile, the company page will spotlight the value and process of coaching, offering a closer look at how Think Strategically helps clients achieve their goals.

This dual approach will ensure that I’m connecting with potential clients both on a personal level and through the lens of my brand’s mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thinkstrategically.com
• Instagram: @think.strategically
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/meganbaker

Image Credits

Photographer: Kylie Butler