Executive Summary Internal alignment drives hard financial outcomes , not soft benefits. Strong alignment across strategy, execution, culture, and leadership is associated with 6–9% higher multi-year CAGR , 20–30% higher profitability , and 2–3× shareholder returns . Trust is the central accelerant  of alignment. It's the key ingredient that reduces friction, speeds decisions, and improves execution. Misalignment creates Management Debt , the organizational equivalent of tech