Harry Blease from British telecom giant Virgin Media O2 started with the “why” of OKRs as the foundation for his implementation. He anchored on what leaders hoped to accomplish with OKRs – alignment, accountability, transparency – and then focused on making it very simple for teams to engage and reap the benefits. This powerful combination of purpose and simplicity led to fast wins including transparency on what teams are trying to achieve in the quarter and more honest conversations about challenges.
Harry Blease is a H at Virgin Media O2, where he owns the OKR framework for the Commercial Digital organization and helps teams stay focused on the work that really moves the needle. He starts with the “why” of OKRs—alignment, accountability, and transparency—and then makes the system simple enough that busy teams actually use it, leading to clearer quarterly priorities and more honest conversations about trade‑offs and blockers.
With more than a decade of experience on both the agency and client side, Harry is known for turning strategy decks into practical delivery plans, putting data and outcomes at the center of digital transformation.
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.