“Be obsessed with the problem”
– John Adjami, Merck
Most believe transformation begins with the latest tech stack or AI use case.
The assumption? If you move fast and automate early, you’ll outpace the market.
But that belief can quietly derail even the best initiatives.
In reality, starting with expensive technology layered on top of a poor process doesn’t always accelerate change—it can even multiply dysfunction. As John puts it (a phrase that has stuck with him for years which he originally heard at a conference):
PP + ET = EPP
Poor Process + Expensive Technology = Expensive Poor Process.
Real transformation demands a shift in mindset:
Before aligning on tools, align on the problem. Get obsessed with understanding it. Involve stakeholders in mapping it. Only then will your solution earn buy-in—from boardroom to end user.
John Adjami, IT Business Partner at Merck, shares how this problem-first approach helped him lead 50+ initiatives across global procurement, finance, and shared services—without losing trust, focus, or momentum.
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#Leadership #DigitalTransformation #ChangeManagement
About John Adjami (LinkedIn): With over 25 years of leadership experience in global IT, John drives digitalization and modernization across Procurement, Finance, and Shared Services. Since joining Merck in 2015, he has standardized key processes worldwide and expanded his scope to areas such as Sustainability, Contract Management, and Strategic Sourcing. Today, he manages more than 50 initiatives and oversees IT budgets for both the Chief Procurement Officer and the Global Head of Shared Services – with a strong focus on integrating AI, robotics, and machine learning into Merck’s IT ecosystem.
About René Esteban (LinkedIn): René Esteban is Founder and CEO of FocusFirst. As a former senior leader in a Fortune 500, he found that too many transformation projects take too long, waste money, and annoy key stakeholders – and that there must be a way to accelerate business transformations sustainably. Today, this belief unites an international FocusFirst team consisting of former top executives and subject matter experts. He is an international keynote speaker, author and senior advisor for top executives to achieve challenging goals and accelerate complex transformations.
About FocusFirst (LinkedIn): FocusFirst is a boutique consulting firm for transformation & strategic change projects. We are the specialised firm in the industry that combines former top executives and an award-winning method to accelerate transformations. This unique “double helix” of capabilities equips us to help our customers deliver results faster against demanding business goals. Executives work with FocusFirst to develop organisations, structure & accelerate transformations. FocusFirst works with leading Fortune 500 companies such as Merck, Novartis, E.ON, BASF, as well as established mid-sized companies.
