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Strategy gets all the attention. Execution determines the outcome.

In this episode, Chelsea Summers sits down with Jeff Pawlow, Principal and Chief Execution Officer at Brady Martz, to unpack what execution really means inside a modern CPA firm.

The conversation explores why so many firms fall short after strategic planning sessions and what it takes to close that gap. They also dive into why partners understand strategy intellectually, but don’t operate with a true ownership mindset. Jeff explains how firms can shift behavior by tying performance to measurable, controllable actions and making progress visible across the organization.

The episode also covers:

• The difference between strategy and execution (and why confusing the two is costly)
• How to measure “soft” metrics like employee experience
• Why controllable metrics matter more than outcomes
• How dashboards and transparency can drive accountability without being punitive
• What execution looks like in M&A and firm growth decisions

As Jeff puts it, strategy is the compass but execution is what gets you there.