Why Strategy Still Beats Speed: Rethinking Growth in FinTech and Banking
- wbrown72
- May 2
- 2 min read
In a fast-paced digital world where everyone’s racing to launch the next big product, it's easy to mistake movement for momentum. But what if moving quickly without a plan is what’s actually slowing you down?
At The Walker Group, we’ve spent years working closely with banks, fintech founders, and executive teams through our events like The FinTech Virtual Lunch and The Exchange. Across dozens of strategy sprints and roundtable conversations, a recurring theme always surfaces: many businesses focus on execution before alignment.
Speed Is Valuable—But Only When Paired with Direction
One common observation we’ve seen in the market is that growth initiatives are often treated as reactive tasks instead of coordinated campaigns. Marketing, go-to-market, and partnership development are done tactically—pushed forward by urgency rather than intention.
The result?
Misaligned teams
Wasted budget
Missed opportunities to connect with the right partners or customers
This isn’t because teams don’t care—it’s because they’re moving fast without a strategic framework.
What Strategy Really Looks Like in Practice
Take, for example, something as simple as implementing a RACE chart—a tool we frequently recommend during our sessions. RACE charts outline who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for every task in a campaign. It’s not flashy, but it creates alignment and clarity across the organization.
That level of visibility means teams can stop duplicating efforts, start measuring success correctly, and make smarter decisions—faster.
What’s the Alternative? Burnout, Budget Waste, and Brand Confusion
When teams skip strategy, they often rely on intuition and urgency to get things done. That works for a little while—until it doesn’t.
Here’s what we see in companies that move fast without planning:
Disconnected messaging across channels
Short-lived campaigns that don’t convert
Low internal morale due to unclear direction
Difficulties proving ROI to leadership or investors
These issues aren’t solved by “hustling harder.” They’re solved by pausing to plan—then moving with purpose.
How FinTechs and Banks Can Shift from Tactical to Strategic
Start with One Question: What problem are we actually solving for our audience right now?
Bring the Right People to the Table: Strategy can’t live in a silo. Involve marketing, business development, partnerships, and compliance early on.
Use Tools That Create Clarity: RACI charts, content calendars, AI-powered workflows—these aren’t overhead. They’re accelerators when used with intention.
Test and Adjust—But Don’t Skip the Plan: You can still be agile. Just don’t mistake speed for strategy.
We Help Leaders Get Strategic Without Slowing Down
At The Walker Group, we work with financial executives who are under pressure to deliver results—fast. But the most successful ones are those who take time to align, build the right relationships, and craft a plan they can confidently execute.
If you're feeling the pressure to “just get it out the door,” take a step back and ask:Do we
know why we’re doing this—and is everyone aligned around that why?
If the answer isn’t clear, it might be time to slow down—just enough to set yourself up for faster, smarter growth.
Want to explore how strategic planning can fit into your next campaign?Join our next FinTech Virtual Lunch or reach out for a strategy session with our team.
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