Vistage Fall Summit – Miami

Converge with Miami's top CEOs for bold peer exchange and real-time executive insight.

Scenario Planning in Erratic Times

When the future is predictable, disciplined execution is enough. When it’s not, leaders need a structured way to evaluate options and make confident decisions under uncertainty.

This session introduces scenario planning as a practical executive tool. Gideon walks through how to identify the critical uncertainties shaping your industry, build multiple plausible futures around them, and use those scenarios to choose strategic focus areas with the highest probability of success.

The logic is straightforward: if an opportunity works across all four scenarios, the risk of failure is low. If it only works in one, it’s a high-risk bet, and probably not worth the investment.

What You’ll Cover:

• How to identify and prioritize the macro forces most likely to impact your business
• How to build four plausible future scenarios from your critical uncertainties
• How to evaluate strategic opportunities and risks across each scenario
• How to use the framework to narrow your focus and commit resources with confidence

What You’ll Take Away:

• A clear framework for strategic decision-making in uncertain environments
• A sharper lens on the macro forces shaping your industry
• The structure and the confidence to focus on the few plays most likely to win

About the speaker

Gideon Malherbe

Founder, Virtual Consulting (VCI)

Gideon Malherbe is the founder of Virtual Consulting (VCI), a consulting firm specializing in strategy and executive coaching.
He is known for developing and implementing strategic insights that produce measurable, lasting results. Over his career, Gideon has worked with executive teams across a wide range of industries — helping leaders navigate uncertainty, align around clear priorities, and build the confidence to commit resources to the right strategic plays.
His approach combines structured strategic frameworks with direct executive coaching. The results have become enduring references for clients across healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, automotive, and consumer products.
Clients include Harley Davidson, Butterball Farms, Epic Systems, Husqvarna, Keffer Auto Group, Keyera Corp, Canlan Ice Sports, and others.
Gideon brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to strategy — one that cuts through complexity, sharpens focus, and translates macro uncertainty into clear organizational action.