In today’s fast-moving and uncertain environment, organizations need more than good intentions and well-worded plans. They need resilient systems that connect vision to execution, building organizational resilience, managing risk, and aligning people and resources around a clear strategic direction.
At LBL Strategies, we’ve seen firsthand how transformative it can be when professionals earn strategy certification grounded in the industry standards of the International Association for Strategy Professionals (IASP), the world’s only global professional body dedicated exclusively to advancing the discipline and profession of strategic management.
Why IASP Strategy Certification Matters
You wouldn’t hire a lifeguard who isn’t certified, so why hire a professional strategist who isn’t?
Earning a credentials from IASP, either the Strategic Planning Professional (SPP) or Strategic Management Professional (SMP) designation, signals credibility and competence. It demonstrates that you understand and can apply the full strategic management cycle: formulation, implementation, measurement, and continuous improvement.
At LBL Strategies, certification isn’t about collecting more letters after ones name. It’s about ensuring that strategy leaders have both the structure and the confidence to guide strategy management.
The Connection Between Certification and Real-World Performance
We’ve trained hundreds of strategy professionals across public, private, and nonprofit sectors through our Mastering Strategy programs, and one truth stands out: Certification pays dividends beyond the classroom, such as:
- Lead with confidence across the full strategy lifecycle: plan, facilitate, execute, and govern a strategic management process built on globally recognized standards.
- Master the principles and frameworks of strategic management to strengthen organizational foresight, adaptability, and resilience in times of uncertainty.
- Align people, priorities, and performance by connecting core competencies, stakeholder engagement, and operating models to a unified strategic direction.
- Bridge strategy and execution through agile performance management systems that turn strategic intent into measurable results and informed decision-making.
- Strengthen organizational resilience. You’ll learn to build adaptive systems and contingency planning into your strategic process.
- Enhances leadership capability. Strategy management is leadership in action, aligning teams, driving clarity, and fostering accountability.
- Deepens your risk-planning acumen. Certified strategists learn to connect foresight and execution, anticipating and mitigating risks before they escalate.
- Validate your strategic credibility. SMP and SPP credentials are recognized across industries and sectors as marks of serious professional expertise.
Why Choose IASP Certification
Unlike many programs that offer “certificates of completion” after a weekend course, IASP certification stands apart for its depth, rigor, and global recognition. IASP credentials are:
- Aligned with the official Strategy Management Body of Knowledge (SMBoK™), the global reference standard for the discipline.
- Competency-based, ensuring candidates demonstrate applied mastery rather than theoretical familiarity.
- Linked to ongoing professional development, requiring continuing education to maintain the credential.
- Supported by an international community of certified strategists, connecting you to peers who share the same commitment to excellence.
Our Certified Team Leads by Example
At LBL Strategies, we don’t just teach certification, we live it.
Our instructors and consultants are certified by IASP and bring decades of experience in strategy formulation, implementation, and execution.
- Randall Rollinson, President & Co-Founder – Certified Strategic Management Professional (SMP); Past President, IASP-Chicago Chapter.
- Doug Maris, Vice President of Operations & Senior Consultant – Certified SMP and SPP
- Robin Champ, Vice President of Strategic Foresight – Certified SM, and recognized expert in strategic foresight.
- When you train with LBL, you learn from practitioners who apply the same principles and tools with clients every day.
The Bottom Line
Earning an IASP certification is one of the most effective ways to elevate your career, credibility, and impact. When you hold an SMP or SPP credential, you:
- Strengthen your ability to lead and influence at every level
- Build confidence in tackling complex strategic and risk-management challenges
- Equip your organization with greater resilience and alignment
- Connect to a global network of strategic management professionals
At LBL Strategies, we’re proud to partner with IASP to deliver training that transforms how leaders think and act strategically. Because strategy isn’t just a document, it’s a leadership discipline. And like any essential skill, it deserves certification.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Join our Mastering Strategy10-Week Live Online Program, the exclusive pathway to earning your IASP-aligned certification.
Each session is facilitate live online by our IASP certified instructors and designed to help you prepare for your SPP or SMP exam while applying proven tools directly to your organization.
Upcoming session:
- Tuesdays, 10:00a–12:30p (ET)
- Live Online via Zoom (all sessions are recorded)