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Business strategist vs business leader

The differences between business strategists and business leaders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 8-10 years to become a business strategist, becoming a business leader takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a business leader has an average salary of $90,430, which is higher than the $62,796 average annual salary of a business strategist.

The top three skills for a business strategist include project management, digital marketing and client facing. The most important skills for a business leader are analytics, project management, and customer service.

Business strategist vs business leader overview

Business StrategistBusiness Leader
Yearly salary$62,796$90,430
Hourly rate$30.19$43.48
Growth rate10%6%
Number of jobs100,217117,296
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Average age3944
Years of experience106

What does a business strategist do?

A business strategist is responsible for developing strategic plans that will help improve an organization to reach its goals and targets and improve profitability. You will analyze existing business strategies and practices and provide recommendations for improvements. Other duties include developing product development and marketing strategies, providing direction and motivating staff to complete new projects and implement new tactics, and preparing presentations to clients and corporate investors. As a business strategist, you are also responsible for consulting with management and reviewing staff performance.

What does a business leader do?

Business Leaders are considered trailblazers in their field. They are innovative thinkers who often introduce solutions to their industry's challenges. They inspire people pursuing careers in their field and even those outside the industry to strive harder and create their paths to success. Employees often look up to Business Leaders, which is why they must be motivating. They also oversee their business operations and often set long-term targets and strategies to achieve these targets. They think outside the box to set their business apart from their competitors.

Business strategist vs business leader salary

Business strategists and business leaders have different pay scales, as shown below.

Business StrategistBusiness Leader
Average salary$62,796$90,430
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $117,000Between $56,000 And $145,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew York
Best paying companyVMwareLyft
Best paying industry-Pharmaceutical

Differences between business strategist and business leader education

There are a few differences between a business strategist and a business leader in terms of educational background:

Business StrategistBusiness Leader
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 73%Bachelor's Degree, 69%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of GeorgiaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Business strategist vs business leader demographics

Here are the differences between business strategists' and business leaders' demographics:

Business StrategistBusiness Leader
Average age3944
Gender ratioMale, 62.2% Female, 37.8%Male, 64.4% Female, 35.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 3.0% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 8.2% White, 74.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 6.4% White, 67.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between business strategist and business leader duties and responsibilities

Business strategist example responsibilities.

  • Implement corrections and removals for multiple product lines; manage responses to FDA; no relate FDA inspections occur.
  • Develop and manage API program expanding long tail of partnerships exponentially.
  • Lead and manage large RFP responses to ensure corporate objectives for profitability, sustainability, and operational delivery objectives are meet.
  • Deliver CRM plan for Sony's VAIO division.
  • Maintain Facebook presence and other social media outlets.
  • Design and daily maintenance of website, Facebook and other social media outlets.
  • Show more

Business leader example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage SharePoint portal site for SFA department.
  • Lead process and results metric development for all components of Medicaid business system.
  • Develop project plans, project status reports, manage the team and resolve day-to-day issues with emphasis on SDLC.
  • Set up a governance document to be share throughout all of department which outline how SharePoint would be manage.
  • Manage sales and technical group to complete a custom online shopping system and CRM system for digital and print products.
  • Utilize GMP to manage department budgets for capital expenses, spare parts, tools, and yearly contracts with outside vendors.
  • Show more

Business strategist vs business leader skills

Common business strategist skills
  • Project Management, 11%
  • Digital Marketing, 10%
  • Client Facing, 4%
  • Business Objectives, 4%
  • Business Model, 4%
  • ROI, 3%
Common business leader skills
  • Analytics, 9%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Business Development, 6%
  • Lean Six Sigma, 4%
  • Continuous Improvement, 4%

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