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RANT: Are Strategic Business Reviews New?
June 24, 2025 · 21 min

In this episode of MSP Business School, Brian Doyle dishes out a raw and insightful exploration of business reviews within the MSP industry. Addressing a trending topic on LinkedIn, Brian questions why strategic business reviews are suddenly being regarded as novel. By revisiting the foundational purpose of Business Reviews, he seeks to realign them with their intended strategic nature. Through this episode, Brian emphasizes how MSPs can harness effective roles such as VCIOs, account managers, and customer success reps to better execute these reviews.

Brian discusses the importance of establishing strategic business reviews that prioritize client outcomes over mere sales efforts. He highlights how a truly strategic QBR can transform client relationships, enhance retention, and open avenues for new revenue opportunities. Throughout the episode, Brian reiterates the critical role of VCIOs in marrying technical insights with business strategies to deliver meaningful value to customers. By focusing on understanding a client's goals, challenges, and overall business objectives, MSPs can create and present tailored roadmaps that align with strategic initiatives.

Key Takeaways:

Strategic business reviews should focus on client outcomes and long-term goals rather than solely attempting to drive immediate sales.

The roles of account managers, customer success reps, and particularly VCIOs are crucial in conducting effective strategic business reviews.

A successful QBR involves understanding the client's business challenges, goals, and aligning proposed solutions with these strategic objectives.

Consistently delivering fresh insights and updating meeting cadences can revitalize client engagement and involvement in their business reviews.

Demonstrating risk, ROI, and the tangible benefits of proposed projects can significantly reduce sales friction and enhance client decision-making processes.

Show Website: https://mspbusinessschool.com/

Host Brian Doyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandoylevciotoolbox/

Sponsor vCIOToolbox: https://vciotoolbox.com