
Inside China's 90% Model: How They Capture Global Demand
"𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚'𝐬 90% 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥?" For over six decades, I’ve had the privilege of advising some of the world’s largest companies, working directly with Fortune 100 CEOs and boards across a wide range of industries and global markets. I have worked with over 50 Chinese companies and served on Chinese boards for three decades. I have seen how the system operates from the inside. I wasn’t just observing from the sidelines—I was in the room where critical strategies were made. I saw the birth of the 90% Model, as Chinese companies built massive scale, leveraged technology, and manipulated pricing to capture 90% 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝 across industries. I’ve been through this journey 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬, understanding the methods they used to dominate industries, disrupt markets, and ultimately create a 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 that has reshaped global business as we know it. And now, I’m sharing these 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 in my new book, “China’s 90% Model”. This is not about political opinions. It’s about 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲. It’s about understanding how 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 is 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐬 and what 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 must do to 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 in this rapidly changing world. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. Don’t get caught unprepared. Learn the framework that will 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐞𝐫𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚'𝐬 90% 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥" 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 17, 2026. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚'𝐬 90% 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 10 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬. Pre-order your copy now on Amazon. Link in the pinned post.

Regional AI Transformations Unveiled at MWC2026
#AI at #MWC2026: How leaders are transforming, region by region. (McKinsey) #MWC26 #MWC #JVGpost https://t.co/q6azSptnUD https://t.co/gXtGMSqk67

Algorithmic Management Has Gone From Gig Platforms to Every Workflow
#CIOChat Q1: Algorithmic management used to mean gig platforms scheduling IT contractors. Now it’s everywhere: Collaboration tools assigning work, ticketing systems routing tasks, AI copilots triaging requests. Where are algorithms already managing work in your org today? https://t.co/Vt7ZVWHoh5
Chaos Reveals Opportunity: Optimize During Organizational Transitions
I've noticed something about the organizations that tend to bring me in for optimization and strategy work. They're almost always in some state of chaos. Restructures still working their way through the system. New leadership with new priorities. Strategic pivots that...
SAP App Cuts Cognitive Friction, Boosts NHL Decisions
The biggest plays in #hockey don’t always happen on the ice. In the National Hockey League (@NHL), front offices make thousands of decisions involving contracts, trades, and salary cap strategy—often under intense time pressure. On the latest episode of the SAP Better...
Scale Exposes Weak Assumptions; Test Bets Early
Most strategies fail before execution. They fail when the bet is made. While in Paraguay preparing to speak on strategy, I reflected on a conversation with Brett Hickey of Star Mountain Capital about why scale exposes weak assumptions and how...
Fix Funnels Now or Rebrand First? Choose Wisely
I was in a discovery call this week with a large charity that's got two fundraising products in decline. Both showing appetite from users, but conversion rates are dropping. One product launched strong a few years back but has been falling...
Tech‑Agnostic Consulting Analyzes Entire Program in Real‑Time
We offer unique, tech-agnostic consulting across industries and platforms, capturing real-time data. Unlike specialized firms, we analyze the entire program, including operational aspects. #Consulting #AI #BusinessStrategy https://t.co/LWi1a9dS98

Agentic AI Success Stalls Without New Architecture
Why Agentic AI Demands a New Architecture “Bain's latest AI readiness survey finds that 80% of generative AI use cases met or exceeded expectations, yet only 23% of companies can tie initiatives to measurable revenue gains or cost reductions. The gap...
Turning Strategy Slides Into Real Decision Power
Companies often have strategy slides. But when real decisions happen, people still ask: “What does strategy mean here?” On March 17 at 10 AM ET I’m joining Adam Zales of Amplify to discuss how strategy leaders translate strategy into action. #Strategy #Innovation #Leadership #CorporateStrategy...
Execs Praise AI, Employees Unprepared for Implementation Gap
Executives: AI is great, and will serve nicely as co-workers to humans. Workers: Okay, but please tell us how this will work. Accenture research finds a yawning gap between executives’ plans for AI, and employee readiness. via @forbes https://t.co/ryb4hnwrws
AI's Real Power Lies in Boosting Organizational Efficiency
The "how does AI improve individual productivity" discussion is much less interesting than "how does AI improve organizational efficiency?" We have a lot of answers to the former, but it will always get eaten by the latter if we don't...
Map Work Before Tools: Stop Duplicating Processes
Buying more AI tools won’t fix broken workflows. Cisco found 75% of project management tasks are identical across departments. Most companies redesign in silos and duplicate the effort. Map the work first. Redesign second. Deploy tools third. https://t.co/n8xR4tuo7g

AI Eliminates Friction, Not Hard Work: Redesign Workflows
AI doesn’t replace hard work. It replaces: • friction • repetition • bad process design Tool lists don’t create leverage. Workflow redesign does. https://t.co/vA5qiq9PJH

Prioritize Subtraction Over Addition in Education Reform
"No matter the decade you went to school, the time frame is about the same as it is today, but the demands keep increasing. That is an unsustainable model. Focus on subtracting before you even consider adding." 3 Things to Consider When...
Global Coaches Converge in Miami to Expand Strategies
Last week, 20 business coaches and strategists flew in from New Zealand, Australia, Vancouver, and Europe to meet in Miami. The goal: learn new ways to open strategic possibilities for our clients. If you do strategy work, join us next time. https://t.co/Lfav5nA7hV #BusinessCoaching #Strategy...
Know When AI Delegation Helps Vs. Harms
Sometimes Delegating to AI Causes Damage. Sometimes It's Extremely Useful and Saves Time. But When Should You Use It, and When Shouldn't You? #ArtificialDecisions #MCC https://t.co/hgIwLXkh0v
Same Data, Different Roles Reveal Unique Pain Points
"What pain points emerged this month?" Same question. Six answers depending on your role: investor, researcher, strategist, innovation lead. Same intelligence. Completely different lenses. The depth changes everything.

Private Data Becomes AI's New Gold Rush
The AI Commodity Trap: Why Your Private Data is the New Gold Rush https://t.co/YPhUm65OcN via @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesLeader #leadership #Marketing #ArtificialInteligence #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #Tech #TechNews https://t.co/KKtghDgXXJ
Embrace AI’s Shifting Productivity Frontier, Don’t Wait
Michael Porter's productivity frontier concept is playing out in real-time. We have 1-2 years where the frontier is getting pushed out by AI before it settles. We get to decide: wait for best practices to emerge, or engage in rebuilding?...

Autonomy Through Visibility, Policy, and Auditable Overrides
Is this how to prepare for an agentic AI driven future? “Organizations that succeed in the agentic AI era will earn autonomy through visibility, clear policy boundaries and the ability to audit and override decisions when necessary.” https://t.co/dTtFlFp2Cy #AIGovernance #AIAgents
AI Agents Will Outscale Humans as Top Software Users
AI agents will soon be the biggest users of software in the world. And hardware as well. Why? They scale. Humans don’t.
Half the CAC, Double the Market Share
Two identical companies. One difference: Your CAC = $1 My CAC = $2 We both spend $2 on marketing. You acquire 2 customers. I acquire 1. Over time, you dominate the market. CAC isn’t just a metric. It’s a strategic advantage. #CAC #CustomerAcquisition #BusinessStrategy #GrowthStrategy #Marketing
Future-Proof Cloud Costs: Strategies for a Volatile Decade
Cloud cost management strategies for upcoming volatile decade. < My comments within... https://t.co/Zpgqt1oMun #CIO #CostManagement #TBM #FinOps #Cloud
AI Fear Porn Overblown; Try Firing All White‑Collar Workers
Anybody else tired of all the fear porn about AI emanating from some industry leaders? How about: "Okay, you axe all your professional or white-collar employees (accountants, marketers, lawyers) over the next 18 mos. We'll check back then to see...
Strategic Launches & Seamless Project Management Drive Client Success
Things we’ve been up to (and feel proud of): — Helping @cbmeditates bring his new offering Tantric Rebirth into the world. — Strategizing and setting up all the things for @thehotgirlcfo and her new baddie offer FinSalon. — Managing multiple...
Okta Positions Identity as Agentic Entry Point
Q4 FY 2026 Earnings for @Okta Highlight Agentic Identity Positioning https://t.co/oqESh3att1 My take on how a top enterprise identify firm will try to flip the category into a major agentic entry point.

War Directly Hits Middle East Public Cloud Infrastructure
1/ It’s a watershed moment for enterprise IT. For the 1st time, we’re seeing major public cloud infra in the Middle East physically damaged by war, not just cyberattacks or power events. Two AWS data centers in the UAE were directly struck...
Let AI Handle the Mundane, You Own the Strategy
I was talking with Orlando Oliveira about AI and where it fits into design work. I've been using a simple framework to decide what to delegate to AI and what to keep for myself. Mundane thinking versus strategic thinking. Mundane thinking is...
Build the Right Operational Foundation, Not Just Harder Work
Sometimes the breakthrough doesn’t come from working harder, it comes from building the right operational foundation.

Show Clients Your Problem‑Solving Method to Align
How will your clients know they have the same problem solving approach as you? You show them yours @TBorreson11 https://t.co/TLj9GWzHCh #personalbranding #networking #community #digitaltransformation #digitalmarketing #digitalselling #socialselling #belonging #culture https://t.co/6xqHhZ71Jl
AI‑Powered Personas Bring User Research to Everyone
A client asked me about democratizing UX research when you're a team of one. They wanted other people across the organization to be able to tap into user insights without needing them to run every query. I suggested something I've been...

Most AI Failures Stem From Data Quality, Budget Unknown
Question for your next meeting: "If 95% of AI projects fail before production, and the reason is data quality, what percentage of our AI budget goes to data quality and governance?" The follow-up that makes it uncomfortable: "How confident are we that...

Middle Management: The Hidden Glue Companies Lose
#TimTalk - Many organisations “lean out” by removing middle layers. What is the cost to a company when they remove this “middle” glue? with Gary Cookson https://t.co/fW8twRPAgo via @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesLeader #Leadership #Culture #Management #HumanResources #HR

Enterprise AI Demands Complex, Strategic Content
Moving Beyond “Simple” Content: The Reality of Enterprise AI by @Timothy_Hughes https://t.co/xoVl3qVnAP @DLAIgnite #SocialSelling #DigitalSelling #Sales #SalesTips #SalesLeader #Marketing #Leadership #ArtificialInteligence #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Technology #Tech #TechNews

Accountability Shifts to Decision Rights in AI Agents
Who’s Accountable when AI Agents Act “Agency isn’t a feature—it’s a transfer of decision rights,” says McKinsey Partner Rich Isenberg. “The question shifts from ‘Is the model accurate?’ to ‘Who’s accountable when the system acts?’” https://t.co/Lgqcxr3zq4 @McKinsey #AIGovernance
Automation Threatens Jobs in Oil and Gas
#WhosNext? Oil and gas workers? #Automation means the industry doesn't employ as many people as it used to. #AV #Robotics #RPA https://t.co/7icqDY8Mvf
Target Underserved Customers and Tailwinds for True Success
You can have a great product, team, plan, and pricing. But if you’re pursuing the wrong opportunity, none of it matters. Two questions define a great opportunity: Are there valuable underserved customers? Is there a tailwind? Strategy starts there. #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #StartupStrategy #Innovation #LeadershipDevelopment
AI Productivity Gains Finally Appear in Macro Data
Alex has been tracking the evidence on whether AI is showing up in the productivity stats. Seems like that may have actually started.
Switch to Airtable Forms, Ditch Client Spreadsheet Hassle
Having your coaching clients fill out spreadsheets in Google Sheets is wild when airtable exists where they can submit a form and we deal with the formula in the back end

AI Shifts to Ops, Budgets Rotate, Constraints Move Beyond Tech
📊⚡️The enterprise technology agenda just shifted again in a very fast-paced market: My latest @TheFuturumGroup 1H 2026 CIO & Tech Buyers Global Enterprise Decision Maker Survey reveals a set of structural changes happening inside enterprises right now. Across three quarterly waves of...

Agentic AI Triggers 2026 CIO Platform Reset
My latest research: The Great CIO Platform Reset: Why Agentic AI Is Forcing a 2026 Reckoning | @TheFuturumGroup https://t.co/5nUzVNyJb8 https://t.co/mo0N1ROE2a
Target Allocates $2B to AI, Signaling Strategic Priority
Target fuels AI in $2B spending plan | @CIOdive https://t.co/bz9LR1PLOB More evidence that companies view AI as absolutely strategic to their future growth.

Modern CIOs Prioritize Transparency Over Control to Build Trust
#CIOChat Q4: Endgame: Modern CIOs are shifting from control to credibility: Transparency, shared roadmaps, product operating models, and visible tradeoffs. What current or new practices are working for you to build durable trust between IT and the business today? https://t.co/pO7J5Oaktf

Align Stakeholders with Governance Amid Competing Priorities
#CIOChat Q2: Realities force tradeoffs. Product teams, business units, and leadership all expect priority. What governance, transparency, or portfolio practices have helped you keep stakeholders aligned when “everything” can’t be top priority? https://t.co/4w0YiIJOHF

Trust Gaps Emerge When Stakeholders Feel Ignored
#CIOChat Q1: Trust is the invisible operating system of IT. When stakeholders feel ignored, often due to massive backlogs and the reality that not every request can match their priority, where does the trust gap typically begin in your org?...
AI's Rapid Gains Silence Skeptics, Reveal Overperformance Risk
The rapid advancement in models and agentic tools in the past 30 days has silenced most AI bubble bears. The pace of spending is being matched by performance and productivity improvement showing the structural risk is not AI lacking value...

States Pilot Agentic AI to Revolutionize Government Services
A report from the National Association of State CIOs outlines how states are beginning to explore ways to use agentic AI across state agencies in ways that could transform how government work gets done and how citizens interact with government. https://t.co/6cNwEmicvl...

Digital Features Aren’t Transformation; Culture and Process Matter
The industry has confused adding digital features with true transformation. Having a mobile app and digital account opening doesn’t make you digitally mature. Real transformation changes culture, processes, and mindset. Download the free report now: https://t.co/gNGFxphUMy https://t.co/bz0SeOWTSW
No Fixed Start: Toggle Choices Until Five Align
Zach, I really appreciate the effort and the thinking you have done. But I am afraid I don't agree with the prescription. For starters, I don't argue that you should start at the upper left and go down. It is...