The world of business is very vital, and we are often told, “You need a plan.” A roadmap. A strategy. A meticulously crafted blueprint for success. From boardrooms to business incubators, the mantra is repeated like a sacred rite: set goals, forecast revenue, map growth. And yet, when I asked Dr Leila Watson - the renowned business mentor and strategist for elite businesswomen - whether a strategic plan was necessary, her answer stood out for its elegance and audacity.
“No, you don’t need a strategic plan to run your business - especially if you’re a businesswoman,” she said, her voice calm yet unwavering. “You only need God. That’s your strategy. But first, you need to know who you are.” It was one of those moments that makes you pause, a breath of clarity in the whirlwind of spreadsheets, marketing funnels, and pivot tables. In that single sentence, Dr Watson reframed the way we think about business, success, and the power inherent in women who dare to build.
The question that challenged everything.
The question came during one of Dr Watson’s signature mentorship sessions, held in her elegantly minimalist office, where sunlight poured over soft cream walls, and a hint of lavender lingered in the air. A group of ambitious women had gathered, laptops open, notebooks ready. The tension in the room was palpable; the question was daring, almost provocative. “Do you really need a strategic plan to run your business?”
It’s the kind of question that can make seasoned entrepreneurs squirm. After all, business culture tells us that strategy is everything, that without a plan you’re floating without a direction, a ship in stormy seas. But Dr Watson smiled, and in that smile was a promise: her revelation was a bombshell for the entrepreneurship culture.
“No,” she repeated. “You don’t need a strategic plan to run your business. You only need God. That’s your strategy. But first, you need to know who you are.” At first, there was silence, confusion, and scepticism. But then she began to unravel the brilliance of her philosophy.
Strategy vs. Identity: The Divine Equation.
Dr Watson is not suggesting that business acumen, talent, or hard work are irrelevant - far from it. What she is saying is that the source of true business power is not the plan - it’s the person behind it, and for women entrepreneurs, she insists, this principle is amplified. “You can follow every blueprint in the world,” she explained, “but if you don’t know who you are - your purpose, your unique authority, the divine spark within you - your business will be hollow. It may grow and make money, but it won’t resonate, it won’t empower, and it won’t transform lives.”
Her approach challenges the conventional wisdom of entrepreneurship. Instead of asking, How do I grow my business? She encourages her students to ask, Who am I in this business? The answer to that question, she argues, is the real strategy. “Once you know who you are,” Dr Watson said, “you begin to attract the right clients, the right opportunities, and the right momentum. Everything else becomes secondary. God is the architect; you are the vessel. Your clarity is your compass.”
The story of “Mary Scaloppy.”
Dr Watson often illustrates her teachings with real-life examples. One of her most celebrated stories is that of Mary Scaloppy, a young entrepreneur whose vision seemed almost audacious in its elegance. Mary was a lingerie stylist. But not just any stylist. She wanted to create a luxury brand designed specifically for businesswomen - a brand that didn’t just sell underwear, but sold power, authority, and confidence. That brand became Scaloppy Private.
When Mary approached Dr Watson, she had no business plan, no investor deck, no elaborate market research. She had one thing: a clear understanding of who she was and who she wanted to serve. “I’m here to make women feel powerful,” Mary had said. “Not just sexy, but unstoppable. When they wear my lingerie, I want them to walk into a boardroom or a meeting and own their presence.” Dr Watson smiled. “Perfect. That is your strategy.”
Building a business without a plan.
It might sound reckless to some. How do you scale without a roadmap? How do you measure success without milestones? Dr Watson’s answer is rooted in faith, identity, and alignment. She explains the process in three principles:
1. Know Who You Are.
Mary Scaloppy understood herself intimately. She knew her tastes, her voice, and her vision for powerful women. That clarity allowed her to design every piece of lingerie with intention, from the fabric to the silhouette, from the colours to the messaging. When you know yourself, every decision becomes aligned, even without a formal plan. Your identity informs your brand, your marketing, and your client experience.
2. Serve a Defined Audience.
Mary’s niche was not “women” in general - it was businesswomen who wanted to feel seen, powerful, and unapologetically feminine. By focusing on this audience, she didn’t need to create a broad strategy. She designed products and experiences that resonated deeply with the women she already understood. This principle applies universally. You don’t need a 50-page business plan if you know exactly who you are serving and why. Your audience becomes your roadmap.
3. Trust Divine Timing.
Perhaps the most radical principle of Dr Watson’s philosophy is this: trust God as your strategy. “I don’t mean that you sit back and do nothing,” she explains. “I mean that when you are aligned with your identity and purpose, the right opportunities will come at the right time. Your clarity invites favour. Your confidence attracts collaboration. Your faith catalyses action.” Mary followed this principle. She launched her brand with limited inventory, no extensive advertising, and minimal staff. She trusted that her identity, her voice, and her service would attract the right women — and they did.
Within a short period, Mary’s luxury lingerie line became a sensation among high-powered businesswomen, earning her the title of millionaire entrepreneur. But more importantly, she became a symbol of empowerment - proof that a strategic plan is not always necessary when identity and purpose lead the way.
4- Selling Power, Not Products.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Mary Scaloppy’s success is the intangible value she sells. Scaloppy Private is more than lingerie; it is an experience, a declaration, a statement of authority. Dr Watson explains: “Businesswomen don’t just buy products; they buy feelings. They buy confidence, presence, and the sense that they belong in spaces that have historically underestimated them. Mary understood this instinctively.”
Every piece of lingerie is designed to make women feel powerful, seen, and ready to conquer their world. It’s a strategy that transcends numbers and projections - it’s about creating impact through identity-driven design.
5- Why Some Women Fear Running Without a Plan.
It is easy to see why the idea of running a business without a strategic plan is unsettling. Society conditions women to believe that success equals preparation, projection, and precaution. We are taught to calculate risk, plan contingencies, and write detailed business plans before taking a single step. But Dr Watson challenges this narrative:
“For women who know who they are, planning is not a limitation - it is an ornament. It’s a framework, not a foundation. Your foundation is God, your identity, and your clarity of purpose.”
The fear of running without a plan often masks a deeper uncertainty: a lack of connection to one’s identity. Once that connection is established, she argues, fear dissolves, and bold action becomes natural.
How can you build your business in a God-first, identity-driven way?
Dr Watson provides a blueprint for women ready to embrace this approach:
- Discover Your Identity: What are your strengths, values, and divine gifts? How do they shape the work you were called to do?
- Define Your Audience: Who are you serving? What do they need beyond products or services - confidence, empowerment, visibility?
- Align With Purpose: Let every decision, from product design to marketing, reflect your identity and divine calling.
- Release Control: Understand that God’s timing and favour will guide growth, partnerships, and opportunities.
- Act Boldly: Move with confidence, knowing that clarity, faith, and purpose will attract the right momentum.
Dr Watson emphasises that this method does not replace hard work, discipline, or financial acumen. Instead, it redefines these tools as instruments rather than foundations. Your identity is the foundation; strategy is the instrument...
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