What is the Big 5 of Strategy Assessment?
The world’s first research-based strategy competency model
Developed in 2025 after a global research initiative led by Dr. Jeroen Kraaijenbrink and Dr. Timothy Tiryaki, the Big 5 of Strategy identifies five strategy competencies and twenty sub-competencies that define how people think and act strategically. Unlike personality tests or behavioral typologies, this assessment measures strategy-as-a-skillset — a combination of mindset, capability, and action.
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What it does:
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Reveals each individual’s strategic strengths and blind spots
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Maps out five strategy personas for more effective team composition
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Enables leaders and coaches to build strategic capacity across organizations
Who is the Certification Program For?
This program is designed for professionals who guide others in their growth, strategy, and transformation journeys:
Executive & Leadership Coaches
Seeking a structured, evidence-based way to develop strategic thinking in clients.
Organizational Consultants & Culture Practitioners
Wanting to align strategy, leadership, and culture through a powerful diagnostic tool.
Educators & Facilitators
Integrating strategy competencies into leadership development, MBA programs, or workshops.
Leaders & HR Professionals
Looking to elevate internal strategy capability and build stronger, forward-looking teams.
Next Cohort Dates & Details
Format: Live online (Zoom)
Duration: 8 weeks – 2 hours per week
January 2026 Cohort for Coaches & Facilitators
The Big 5 of Strategy Coach Certification equips professional coaches with a science-based framework to help clients think and act more strategically. You’ll learn to interpret assessment results, build strategy competencies, and unlock your clients’ full potential for impact.
January-March 2026 cohort:
Thursday January 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 2026
9am ET / 3pm CET / 9pm CST / 11pm AEST
April 2026 Cohort for Coaches & Facilitators
The Big 5 of Strategy Coach Certification equips professional coaches with a science-based framework to help clients think and act more strategically. You’ll learn to interpret assessment results, build strategy competencies, and unlock your clients’ full potential for impact.
April-May 2026 cohort:
Tuesdays April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, 26, 2026
9am ET / 3pm CET / 9pm CST / 11pm AEST
Why You Should Join
Because strategy isn’t just for executives —
it’s a human skill.
By becoming a Certified Big 5 of Strategy Coach, you will:
Gain deep mastery of the 5 core strategy competencies
Learn to interpret and debrief assessments for individuals and teams
Add a proprietary, research-backed tool to your coaching portfolio
Join a global network of strategy coaches advancing human-centered strategy
Be part of a movement redefining what it means to think and act strategically in the 21st century
What Certified Coaches are Saying:
"I’ve taken many work-related assessments before, the Big 5 of Strategy helped me see my strengths from a new perspective, different from tools like StrengthsFinder or DISC. I can see this becoming a powerful tool for teams to build awareness and collaboration."
Brian Hughes
Leadership Coach & Consultant
“A very helpful tool that takes personal courage to leverage because it is incisive and revealing. Weaknesses are relative to strengths so highly effective leaders may need to sit with the discomfort to see just where they could make improvements.”
Phyllis Peter
Organization Development
Consultant
"My coachees gain a deeper understanding of strategic thinking and experience clear, measurable guidance. For me as a coach, it offers a coherent, practice-oriented framework for developing leadership skills at every level, including CEOs and business owners."
Rainer Heilen
Innovation Mentor
“In a world where strategic thinking is the key to sustainable leadership, The Big 5 of Strategy finally offers a data-driven path forward—free from guesswork, bias, or dependency on others. Built on a validated assessment and objective insights, it empowers both leaders and the coaches guiding them to think bigger, act smarter, and lead with clarity.”
Simone de Rie
AI Strategist & Executive Coach
"This assessment helps to understand people’s inherent leadership style, learn to apply their strategic strengths, and avoid potential pitfalls. I highly recommend it for leadership development."
Hsuan-hua Chang
Executive Coach