In this episode of What’s New at CFI on FinPod, we introduce a brand new course designed to help professionals tackle one of the most overlooked skills in business: Strategic Problem Solving.
Meeyeon, VP of Content and Training at Corporate Finance Institute, sits down with Jeroen Kraaijenbrink, strategy expert and co-founder of Strategy Inc., to discuss the thinking frameworks behind the new Strategic Problem Solving course. Together, they explore why defining the right problem is often harder than solving it and why leaders frequently jump to solutions before fully understanding the underlying issue.
The conversation breaks down what actually makes a problem strategic rather than operational. Strategic problems tend to involve high stakes, uncertainty, and multiple possible interpretations, which makes them difficult to frame clearly and even harder to solve. Jeroen explains how tools like pattern recognition, criteria-based assessment, and scenario thinking can help decision-makers step back, explore multiple problem definitions, and identify more robust solutions.
We also dive into the concept of whole-brain thinking, which combines analytical reasoning with intuition. Instead of relying purely on data or purely on instinct, the course teaches how to balance both, allowing professionals to process complex strategic decisions more effectively.
Throughout the episode, Meeyeon and Jeroen share practical examples, from declining profit margins to global trade disruptions and tariff uncertainty, showing how better problem framing can dramatically change the solutions organizations pursue. The key lesson: don’t rush to solutions. Spend time sitting with the problem first.
If you’re a professional working in corporate finance, strategy, consulting, or leadership, this episode offers a preview of the frameworks you’ll learn in CFI’s newest course and why strategic thinking is becoming a critical skill across every function in modern organizations.
Tune in to learn how to slow down your thinking, define problems more clearly, and make stronger decisions under uncertainty.