In this episode, Milan Červenka, Product Line Lead of Strategic Management at MSD, shares what it takes to modernize strategy execution across a 130-year-old, 75,000-person enterprise. He offers a candid look at the real costs of fragmented OKR practices across the organization, and how the pivotal shift to a single system with WorkBoard is enabling teams to execute the strategy with confidence and consistency. Milan outlines how standardized data, transparent outcomes, and streamlined operating rhythms are strengthening alignment, accelerating decision velocity, and enabling teams across continents to focus on the work that drives impact.
Milan Červenka is the Product Line Lead for Strategic Management at MSD, where he drives modern, unified strategy execution across a 75,000-person global enterprise. His career path from project management to agile transformation and product leadership built the foundation for his current work. Milan combines technical depth with operational discipline, using automation, data, and AI to simplify strategy and accelerate decision velocity. His leadership enables MSD teams worldwide to focus on high-impact priorities and execute with greater clarity and confidence.
Deidre Paknad has founded and led three tech startups, acquired companies and been acquired, and led a high-growth business as an executive at IBM for several years; this affords her a unique perspective on using both speed and scale to drive growth. In her role as CEO at WorkBoard, she works with senior leadership teams at some of the world’s largest companies to clarify, align, and drive strategic priorities with greater speed and agility. She is a frequent speaker on Outcome Mindset™ and tapping into ambition.
Deidre has over a dozen patents and has twice been inducted into the Smithsonian Institution for innovation. Goldman Sachs named her one of the 100 most intriguing entrepreneurs of 2019. Deidre hosts The OKR Podcast, which focuses on accelerating outcomes and fostering an outcomes culture.