Protecting What Matters: From Global Brand Leadership to Vancouver’s Top Restaurant w/ Richard Mah

In a business world driven by growth targets, dashboards, and scale, leaders are often told that expansion is the ultimate measure of success. But what if the real challenge isn’t scaling bigger, it’s protecting what matters?

In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, host Anthony Taylor sits down with Richard Mah, former Global Head of Digital Marketing at ASICS and now steward of Northern Cafe and Grill, a family-run Vancouver diner that has served its community since 1949. With more than 20 years of experience leading digital teams across Asia, aligning global markets, and building performance-driven platforms, Richard has lived the world of multi-million-dollar budgets, executive reporting, and international KPIs. Today, he applies that same strategic thinking to a deeply local, human-centered business.

Richard shares what it was like to build digital infrastructure from scratch at ASICS, break down data silos across regions, and align diverse markets around a single performance dashboard. He reflects on the realities of leading inside hierarchical organizations, earning executive buy-in, and balancing global strategy with local cultural nuance.

The conversation then shifts from corporate boardrooms to brunch service. Richard explains why he chose to return to Vancouver and join his family at Northern Cafe and Grill, a 1949 diner that has since been named Yelp’s Top Place to Eat in Canada. Rather than chasing rapid expansion, Richard and his family focus on consistency, community, and care. They listen closely to guests, protect the legacy of the brand, and modernize thoughtfully without losing the soul of the business.

Anthony and Richard explore the tension between efficiency and hospitality, innovation and stewardship, and scaling versus sustaining. Richard argues that while many businesses pursue hype and growth, long-term success often comes from doing one thing exceptionally well and honoring the vision that built trust in the first place.

The episode closes with a powerful reminder that leadership looks different at every scale. Whether managing global teams or greeting guests by name, protecting what matters may be the most strategic decision a leader can make.

Enroll in our strategic thinking training today for $0!

https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Strategic-Leadership-Toolkit

If you want your team’s execution to be smoother, faster, and easier, your team needs the right tools and coaching. Enroll in the Strategy Leadership Accelerator and level up your leadership team.

https://courses.smestrategy.net/courses/Leading-Strategy-Execution

In this episode, you will learn:

Why alignment is more challenging than strategy in global organizations

How to build digital teams and unified dashboards across multiple markets

Why localization and cultural nuance matter in international brand growth

The difference between scaling a brand and stewarding a legacy

Why consistency often beats hype in long-term brand building

How care and hospitality can become strategic advantages

Connect with Richard Mah

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahrichard/

Northern Cafe and Grill: https://northerncafeandgrill.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northerncafeandgrill/

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO and Founder of SME Strategy and a trusted expert in organizational alignment and strategy execution. With over 15 years of experience facilitating strategic planning and leadership development, he helps organizations align their people, accelerate execution, and achieve their biggest goals.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: www.smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: www.rednyne.com