Inside the Strategy Room

Generative AI poses both risks and opportunities. Ida Kristensen and Oliver Bevan join us to discuss how we can mitigate the former while moving to capture the latter from day one. Ida Kristensen is a senior partner in our New York office. She coleads the Risk & Resilience Practice and advises leading financial institutions on cybersecurity, strategies for risk management, regulatory compliance, and operational improvement. Oliver Bevan is a partner in our Chicago office and a leader in our Risk and Resilience and Technology Practices. He leads our client work at the intersection of technology and risk, focusing on generative AI, data privacy, third party management, and trust and safety. Ida and Oliver’s article, Implementing generative AI with speed and safety is available on McKinsey.com Related reading: The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier A generative AI reset: Rewiring to turn potential into value in 2024Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

M&A dealmakers have been on a wild ride. From the pandemic-fueled rout in 2020 to 2021’s record-breaking recovery, followed by a steep decline in 2023, the global M&A market has offered something of a masterclass in volatility. In this episode, we are joined by senior partners Jake Henry, Mieke Van Oostende, and Andy West to discuss the trends in the global M&A environment in 2024 and what they mean for business leaders. Jake and Mieke recently published a report on McKinsey.com, Top M&A trends in 2024: Blueprint for success in the next wave of deals, which forms the basis for our discussion. The report also includes a compendium of articles analyzing deal activity in the chemicals, tech media and telecom, life sciences, financial services, consumer goods, and transport and logistics industries in 2023. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Private equity firms have a well-earned reputation for elevating the performance of the companies they invest in. A cornerstone of their strategy is a relentless pursuit of operational excellence to drive efficiency and productivity. In this episode, we analyze what public company CEOs can glean from the private equity playbook to enhance their own company's performance. Our guests are John Kelleher and Radhika Ray. John is a senior partner in our Private Equity Special Operations group and serves as an interim in-house executive helping companies execute large PE-style transformations. John has served in multiple executive roles in the private equity industry—including as CEO—and is co-founder of the PE-CEO Alpha Institute, a partnership between McKinsey and Harvard Business School to train private equity portfolio company CEOs. Radhika is a partner in our Private Equity group and has over 15 years of experience in the private equity sector. She helps our clients with large-scale transformations and oversees the service line, implementing rapid labor productivity improvements.Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

CEOs and CFOs are redefining their interactions with the board to ensure success in an era of rapid change. Joining us to delve into this growing trend of collaboration between CEOs, management teams, and boards are Celia Huber, leader of our North American board services practice, along with Michael Birshan and Andy West, the co-leaders of our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice. Related reading: The board’s role in building resilience https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-boards-role-in-building-resilience Five ways to increase your board’s long-term impact https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/five-ways-to-increase-your-boards-long-term-impact The role of the board in preparing for extraordinary risk https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-role-of-the-board-in-preparing-for-extraordinary-risk Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Innovation in a not-for-profit context involves measuring success in terms of returns on mission rather than returns to shareholders. In this episode, McKinsey innovation expert Erik Roth talks with Sajit Joseph, the chief innovation officer of the American Red Cross, about how the 142-year-old institution began and continues to carry out its innovation journey.Explore other episodes of The Committed Innovator: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/inside-the-strategy-room-podcast/innovation Join our Strategy and Corporate Finance LinkedIn community Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Fewer than one in four companies outpace their industry peers on revenue and profit growth. We discuss new research that reveals the six mindsets and strategies that set these growth outperformers apart. We're joined by Rebecca Doherty, a partner in our Bay Area office and co-leader of our Strategic Growth and Innovation practice, Jill Zucker, a senior partner who co-leads our global growth transformation work, and Kate Seigel, a partner in our Detroit office who advises clients on growth strategy and execution using M&A and organic approaches. Related reading: Courageous growth: Six strategies for continuous growth outperformance Join our Strategy and Corporate Finance LinkedIn community and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Zane Rowe is the CFO of Workday, a California-based company that develops enterprise software for managing finance, HR, and planning. Workday has been growing rapidly, and its growth-oriented culture is a central theme of the discussion we recorded between Zane and McKinsey's CFO Eric Kutcher Listen to Eric's conversation with Palo Alto Network's CFO, Dipak Golechha: https://link.chtbl.com/SgZPqa6t Listen to Eric's conversation with Teradata CFO Claire Bramley: https://link.chtbl.com/w3ustEBP Join our Strategy and Corporate Finance LinkedIn community and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Related reading: Data, analytics, and decisions: An interview with Teradata’s CFO Palo Alto Networks CFO on AI, cybersecurity, and the finance leader’s mandate Gen AI: A guide for CFOs Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Boards can play an essential role in engaging management teams to ensure they fully explore the potential of generative AI, even beyond their comfort zone. In this episode, we discuss the most important questions boards need to ask senior executives as their companies move to adopt this technology. Our guests are experienced in both technology and board practices. Frithjof Lund is our managing partner in Norway and leads our firm’s Board Services Practice globally. Douglas Merrill is a partner in our Southern California office and was the Chief Information Officer and VP of Engineering at Google before joining McKinsey. Alexander Sukharevsky is a senior partner in London and the global leader of QuantumBlack, McKinsey's AI arm.Aaron Rosenberg is a partner at Radical Ventures where he leads the firm's European and London investment activities and operations. Related reading: Four essential questions for boards to ask about generative AI The economic potential of generative AI: The next productivity frontier What every CEO should know about generative AI Join our Strategy and Corporate Finance LinkedIn community of over 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

We're joined by Charles Conn and Rob McLean, AM, the co-authors of The Imperfectionists: Strategic Mindsets for Uncertain Times. Charles is an investor, environmentalist, and entrepreneur. He co-founded Monograph, a venture firm, and was previously CEO of the Rhodes Trust in Oxford. He is the Board Chair of Patagonia and sits on The Nature Conservancy European Council. He was the founding CEO of Ticketmaster-Citysearch and a partner at McKinsey & Company. Rob is a Director Emeritus of McKinsey & Company, a Trustee of The Nature Conservancy in Australia and Asia, and a Director of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Australia’s largest philanthropic foundation. He is the former Dean of the Australian Graduate School of Management. He was a Fulbright Scholar at the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. Rob and Charles' books can be found here: https://bulletproofproblemsolving.com/ You can also listen to their previous interview on Inside the Strategy Room or read the edited transcript on McKinsey.com. Join our Strategy and Corporate Finance LinkedIn community of over 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Many companies turn to transformation because their leaders seek to capture untapped potential or realize growth or efficiency gains. Yet transformations take work to get right. Our research shows less than a third of transformations reach their goals to improve organizational performance and sustain these improvements over time. To discuss how to beat those odds and sustain a holistic business transformation over the long term, we are joined by Roman Regelman and Kevin Carmody. Roman is Senior Executive Vice President and Global Head of Securities Services and Digital at US-based financial company BNY Mellon. Kevin is a senior partner in our Transformation Practice with over twenty years of experience serving clients across Europe and North and South America. Follow our Transformation Practice on LinkedIn Visit our Transformation Practice on McKinsey.com Join our Strategy and Corporate Finance LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

A chief of staff can be instrumental to a CEO's success while also advancing their own career. While the role’s variability and intensity make it challenging, they also make it exciting. We're joined by Blair Epstein, Poppy Johnson, and Connor Rochford to discuss the eight pieces of advice they have distilled from hundreds of interviews with those who have mastered the role. Read the McKinsey.com article, Seeing around corners: How to excel as a chief of staff, by Eleanor Bensley, Andrew Goodman, Poppy Johnson, and Connor Rochford Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

We discuss the role M&A can play in the launch and success of large-scale transformations. Our guests are Chris Hagedorn and Alex Liu. Chris is a leader in our Transformation Practice, where he designs and executes comprehensive transformations, including M&A integration and value capture to achieve rapid and sustainable performance improvement for clients. Alex is a leader in our M&A Practice. He works closely with senior leadership teams on large-scale mergers and brings expertise in realizing revenue-based synergies. Chris and Alex's recent McKinsey.com article: When a transaction forges a transformation Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In this episode, we share advice and insights for new CEOs about how they can make a strong start in the role. Sean Brown is joined by Carolyn Dewar, a senior partner in our San Francisco office who is the founder and co-leader of our CEO Excellence Practice. She is also a co-author of last year’s NY Times bestseller, CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest. Joining Carolyn is Kurt Strovink, a senior partner in our New York office and co-leader of our global CEO initiative. He serves as a counselor to CEOs across industries and is a co-author, with Carolyn, of the Mckinsey.com article, Starting strong: Making your CEO transition a catalyst for renewal. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 87,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore more Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com If you would like to receive alerts on our latest insights, you can sign up at McKinsey.com/scf Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

This shift from industry sectors to customer-focused ecosystems may be the largest economic reorganization in history. What role will your company play? Global ecosystems are breaking down barriers separating traditional industries and organizing the economy around key customer needs. In this episode of Inside the Strategy Room, the co-authors of the new book The Ecosystem Economy: How to Lead in the New Age of Sectors Without Borders, explain how companies can secure their place in the ecosystem evolution. Miklós Dietz leads McKinsey’s strategy and corporate finance work within our Financial Services practice and Venkat Atluri heads up our Technology, Media & Telecommunications practice. Listen to episode 133. Digital ecosystems: Creating value in the new age of sectors without borders Join our LinkedIn community of more than 87,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore more Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com If you would like to receive alerts on our latest insights, you can sign up at McKinsey.com/scf Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Scott Wine is the CEO of the multinational equipment manufacturer and services company, CNH Industrial. The company's brands include CASE and New Holland. Scott reflects on the challenges of leading a globally dispersed business, the critical importance of technology to agriculture, and what he learned from running the executive dining room for General Colin Powell. He spoke with senior partner Celia Huber during our recent global strategy and leadership event in New York. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Boards are under increasing pressure to navigate a complex business environment, stay on top of accelerating technological advances, manage growing stakeholder expectations, and in some cases, set the organization's ambition level to catalyze change in close collaboration with management. To discuss how the role of the board is developing in light of these challenges we're joined by Karen McLoughlin, a former CFO who is a long-time board director for Best Buy, among other companies, Steven Sterin, who serves on the boards of DuPont and Kosmos Energy, and Frithjof Lund, a senior partner in our Oslo office and global leader of our Board Services practice. Related Insights Starting your board journey: Six steps to guide director hopefuls The board’s role in building resilience ‘Spotlight’ on board diversity: McKinsey and Goldman Sachs move the needle Geopolitical resilience: The new board imperative Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Generative AI has been the hottest technology and business topic of 2023. Everyone knows that gen AI could be important, but how do you use it to create innovation that will genuinely advance your business? Joining us to address that question are Laura LaBerge and Matt Banholzer. Laura is the Global Director of our Growth Strategy and Innovation practice based in our Stamford, Connecticut office. She works with clients on digitally driven innovations, strategies, and transformations. You can contact Laura on LinkedIn here. Matt is a partner in our Chicago office who co-leads the Growth Strategy and Innovation Practice. Matt serves organizations on innovation strategy across a range of sectors, including energy, basic materials, and agriculture. You can contact Matt here. Related Insights I'd like you to please read about the research this conversation was based on in the McKinsey.com article: Companies with innovative cultures have a big edge with generative AI. Innovation: Your solution for weathering uncertainty The Committed Innovator The eight essentials of innovation Taking fear out of innovation (podcast) Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Dipak Golechha is the Chief Financial Officer of Palo Alto Networks, a leading cybersecurity company. This episode features a conversation between Dipak and Eric Kutcher, our own CFO. Dipak and Eric discuss their experiences around the expanding CFO mandate, what it’s like to lead the finance function in a highly volatile business environment, and how they’re grappling with AI and other new technologies. Related InsightsEric's interview with Claire Bramley, CFO of Terradata. The new CFO mandate What is cybersecurity? Boards and cybersecurity Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

China’s economy and business landscape have been going through significant changes. We speak with three experts who will help us understand those shifts and how multinationals can adapt their strategies to succeed in China. Our guests are Franck Le Deu, a leader of our Life Sciences Practice in China, Joe Ngai, chairman of our offices in Greater China, and Junna Shi, a partner who advises Chinese government institutions on industrial development, regional economic planning, and integrated regional development topics. Related Insights The McKinsey Global Institute report we refer to in this episode: https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/the-china-imperative-for-multinational-companiesMGI on LinkedIn Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Great CEOs know that the transition to their successor will define their legacy and cement the strength of what they’ve built. We speak with three McKinsey experts about how the best CEOs prepare for the final phase of their tenure. We're joined by Carolyn Dewar, a senior partner in our Bay Area office, Blair Epstein, a partner also based in San Fransisco, and Kurt Strovink, a senior partner in our New York office. Related Insights Sending it forward: Successfully transitioning out of the CEO role CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders From the Rest The CEO Journey Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

The best CEOs find a new gear and sustain momentum and high performance after the heady first years in the job. We're joined by Kurt Strovink, a senior partner in our New York office, and Carolyn Dewar, a senior partner in our Bay Area office, to discuss the four ways CEOs can avoid complacency and create even more value in their mid-tenure. Related InsightsStaying ahead: How the best CEOs continually improve performance CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders From the Rest The CEO Journey Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

For any company, having a CEO who makes effective, strategic decisions can help teams go far. CEOs who excel at this have what McKinsey senior partner Sacha Ghai calls “CEO alpha.” In today’s episode, Sacha speaks with Brian Vickery, a partner in our Boston office who hosts our Deal Volume podcast which is focused on private capital. During today’s discussion, they’ll cover a range of topics, including the implications of CEO Alpha for chief executives who are leading private equity portfolio companies, the different mandates these CEOs face, the steps they can take to create alpha, and how they are navigating an increasingly volatile economic and geopolitical environment. Related reading: The CEO alpha: The advantages of exceptional leadership CEO alpha: A new approach to generating private equity outperformance CEO Excellence collection Related listening: Deal Volume on Apple Podcasts Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Dr Richard Haass shares his perspectives on how business leaders can navigate today’s complex geopolitical landscape. Richard is a veteran diplomat and respected scholar of international relations. He has deep experience in geopolitics. His diplomatic service includes counseling Colin Powell in talks in Afghanistan and three years as the US envoy on peace negotiations in Northern Ireland. Richard led the United States Council on Foreign Relations for twenty years and is now president emeritus. He has taken on a new role as senior counselor at the investment banking advisory firm Centerview Partners. Richard has also written 17 books and in his most recent, Bill of Obligations: Ten Habits of Good Citizens, he makes the case that for American democracy to survive and hopefully thrive, the very idea of citizenship must be revised and expanded. Related insights: Richard’s book: Bill of Obligations: Ten Habits of Good Citizens Geopolitical resilience: The new board imperative How three global companies navigate geopolitical risk to build resilience Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Many organizations embark on large-scale transformations, only to end with frustrated leaders and worse-than-expected long-term results. That doesn't have to be the case. Success is attainable and organizations that excel at implementation tend to outperform their peers financially. What sets these top performers apart? Olalla Montes, Nick Robson, and Nick Waugh join us to answer that question. Related Insights How to implement transformations for long-term impact Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Hopper has acquired 100 million mobile users by offering consumer-friendly financial products and a gamified app experience, according to cofounder Frederic Lalonde. In this episode, Frederic takes us on a journey and explains how Hopper transformed from a company with the bulk of its initial revenue coming from airline ticket sales into a travel fintech business—selling algorithmically enabled financial products such as price-freezing capabilities and cancellation insurance. We’ll also discuss consumer psychology, the power of gamification and social commerce, and the trade-offs involved in targeting younger travelers. Related insights: Travel Disruptors: Bringing fintech to travel booking What is digital transformation? Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Major League Baseball’s Chief Operating and Strategy Officer Chris Marinak speaks with McKinsey innovation leader Erik Roth about how the league is using fan feedback, experimentation, and data to change a game steeped in tradition and culture to reach the next generation of fans. This season, MLB implemented rules changes that fundamentally altered the pace and action of the game and continues to embrace innovation and technology to improve the game and the overall fan experience. Related Insights Follow The Committed Innovator podcast Read and listen to past episodes of The Committed Innovator Join our LinkedIn community of more than 91,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Many executives believe making growth sustainable and inclusive requires inscrutable trade-offs, forgoing revenue and profit for the sake of society and the planet. That is not always the case. Our new analysis indicates financially successful companies that integrate environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) priorities into their growth strategies outperform their peers—provided they also outperform on the fundamentals. The message is clear: not only can you do well while doing good—you can do better. Our guests are Rebecca Doherty, Claudia Kampel, and Werner Rehm. Related insights: The triple play: Growth, profit and sustainability Five ways that ESG creates value Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

The role of chief transformation officer (CTO) is often linked with cost-cutting. In this episode, we discuss how this is a misleadingly narrow view and explain why and how CTOs should correct that misconception and redefine the role. Our guests are Kevin Carmody, a senior partner in our Chicago office, AD Bhatia, a partner in our New Jersey office, and Emily Rizzi, an associate partner based in our Pittsburgh office. Related insights Meet the newest member of the consumer C-suite: The chief transformation officer How companies can transform with workers’ insights Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

We speak Brian Vickery and John Spivey, two authors of the 2023 McKinsey Global Private Markets Review. Brian and John join us to explore recent trends in private markets. They analyze why the markets have enjoyed strong tailwinds since the depths of the Global Financial Crisis and look at the origins of the recent slowdown. Will private markets continue to face headwinds? How did private market performance compare to public markets? That’s what we’re here to find out. Related insights McKinsey Global Private Markets Review: Private markets turn down the volume Follow Brian's new podcast, Deal Volume Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In this episode, we explore the core principles of a successful investor relations strategy. We're joined by Werner Rehm, a partner in our New Jersey office, Jay Gelb, a partner in our New York office, David Honigmann, a senior expert in our London office, and Karl Mahler, a senior adviser to McKinsey based in Zurich who brings over 30 years of experience as a healthcare executive, including as head of investor relations at Hoffmann-La Roche. We discuss why you should focus communication on the large intrinsic investors that matter the most, how to communicate with those intrinsic investors, and how to take a one-story approach that ensures communication is consistent across all groups. Related insights: Should you start issuing EPS guidance again?A better investor story for insurers Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, 7th edition Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Our guest is Eric Lamarre, a senior partner in our Boston office and coauthor of the new book, Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI. Eric and his coauthors, fellow senior partners Kate Smaje and Rodney Zemmel, based their book on the results of more than 200 large-scale digital transformations, creating a detailed guide for companies seeking to outcompete in the age of digital and AI. They’ve found that to increase the odds of long-term success in a digital transformation, the C-suite must make fundamental changes to the company’s talent, operating model, technology and data capabilities. In this episode, we speak to Eric about those changes and discuss how executives can leverage them to ensure that their digital transformation is a success. Related insights: Rewired: The McKinsey guide to outcompeting in the age of digital and AI The Wall Street Journal article mentioned by Eric: It’s Time to Get Rid of the IT DepartmentRewired for value: Digital and AI transformations that work Rewired to outcompete Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In this episode, we explore why and how business leaders, and CFOs in particular, should try to see their businesses as investors see them. We're joined by Chantal Lorbeer, a partner in our Munich office who advises global chemicals companies on their strategy, growth transformations, as well as their operating models and portfolio moves. Chantal co-leads our Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice in Germany was well as chemicals capital-markets perspective globally. Also joining us is Justin Sanders, a partner in our New York office who co-leads our shareholder teardown team, bringing a private equity investor perspective to corporate clients. Justin also founded our work helping clients prepare for, and respond to, activist investors. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In this latest episode in our Committed Innovator series Erik Roth speaks with Harley Finkelstein, an entrepreneur and innovator who is president of the multichannel commerce platform, Shopify. Their conversation is essential listening for anyone interested in learning how to create and build a business that scales. Harley and Erik speak about what it means to be an entrepreneur, why starting a side business makes sense, Shopify's company culture, and how the t-shirt business Harley started in college led directly to him serving as the president of Shopify. Related insights The Committed Innovator podcast The transcript for this episode The Committed Innovator on McKinsey.com Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

The finance function and CFO's rope are evolving rapidly as digitization accelerates the pace of change amidst continuing economic and geopolitical volatility. Two expert colleagues join us to discuss how CFOs can help build world-class finance functions capable of withstanding external shocks and staying ahead of the competition. Bjørnar Jensen is a senior partner in our Zurich office, and Liz Fasciana, is a senior partner in our London office. Both work extensively with CFOs around the world. They spoke with Sean at McKinsey’s CFO Forum in London in June. Related insights: CFOs and the evolving finance function Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In this episode we talk about corporate venture capital: Why should you do it? How should you do it? And what should you expect from it? Traditionally, established corporations have tended to view start-ups as undisciplined and naive, while start-ups might dismiss incumbents as stodgy and behind the times. It’s (mostly) not like that anymore, as both sides increasingly recognize each other’s strengths and the value of collaborating. In fact, large companies are now involved in about a third of all venture deals—an all-time high. More than three-quarters of the Fortune 100 are active in the venture capital (VC) space and half have a VC arm set up as a subsidiary, not including companies with internal VC business units. Joining us to discuss this innovation and investment landscape are Matt Banholzer and Sid Ramtri. Matt is a partner in our Chicago office who heads up innovation at McKinsey and is a leader in our growth and LEAP business building practices. Sid is an associate partner in our São Paulo office and a core member of our private equity and venture capital practices. Related insights: How to make investments in start-ups pay off How to build a unicorn: Lessons from venture capitalists and start-ups The Ecosystem Economy Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Today's episode focuses on how companies can manage risks and seize opportunities emerging from shifting geopolitical trends. We’ll talk about why organizations need to strategically invest in capabilities, people, processes, structures, and technology to navigate the risks arising from an evolving and fraught geopolitical landscape. Joining us is Ziad Haider, McKinsey's global director of geopolitical risk, Leo Geddes, a partner based in London who co-leads our geopolitics client service globally, and Olivia White, a senior partner in our Bay Area office who is also a director of the McKinsey Global Institute. Related insights: How to navigate geopolitical risk amid a fragmenting global order How three global companies navigate geopolitical risk to build resilience How to build geopolitical resilience amid a fragmenting global order War in Ukraine: Twelve disruptions changing the world Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Joining us for this episode is John Horn, author of the new book Inside the Competitor's Mindset. John’s book analyzes how businesses can better understand their competitors and maximize the value of their competitive insights. He is a Professor of Practice in Economics at the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. We also have Emma Gibbs with us. Emma is a partner in our London office, and head of our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice in the U.K., Ireland, and Israel. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.comSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Juvencio Maeztu is Deputy CEO and CFO of Ingka Group. Ingka Group is IKEA’s primary retail organization and represents roughly 90% of its global sales. Juvencio joined IKEA in 2001 and prior to starting his current role, he led IKEA India as CEO for over 6 years. Juvencio sat down with Sean Brown in London to discuss the company's triple bottom line: successfully meeting customer needs, achieving financial outperformance, and ensuring a sustainable environmental footprint. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.comSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

The road to becoming CEO is a difficult ascent for even the most seasoned leaders. We discuss the four keys to making that journey a success with Carolyn Dewar and Vik Malhotra, two of the authors of the New York Times bestseller, CEO Excellence. Carolyn is a senior partner in our San Francisco office who founded and co-leads our CEO Excellence Practice. She works directly with Fortunate 100 client CEOs to help them maximize their effectiveness in the role. Vik is a senior partner in our New York office, who is one of our firm’s most senior client advisors. Vik has served on our board of directors and as our Managing Partner of the Americas, and he currently focuses on counselling CEOs and boards. Our Voices of CEO Excellence interviews with: James Gorman Stephen Schwarzmann, and Ken Frazier Our previous episodes on CEO excellence: Starting strong: Making your CEO transition a catalyst for renewal Leadership lessons from the world's best CEOs Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.comSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

PepsiCo's design chief Mauro Porcini talks about the role of humanity andauthenticity in driving innovation. In today’s episode, Mauro Porcini speaks with senior partner Erik Roth as part of our Committed Innovator series of discussions. Mauro is an enthusiastic innovator and design evangelist. He recently published The Human Side of Innovation: The Power of People in Love with People where he describes the power of design to drive sustainable and inclusive growth. He is passionate about unleashing people’s natural innovative tendencies. In his discussion with Erik, Mauro demonstrates how the best innovations go beyond the need to make a profit and come from an authentic motivation to create something extraordinary for people. He also shares the five different phases that are essential for building an innovative mindset and culture in any organization. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

The chief strategy officer’s role has expanded significantly over the past decade. We look at what it takes to be a successful strategist today. In this episode we discuss the ways in which strategy leaders’ responsibilities have expanded significantly over the past decade, with many adding other functions to their roles. Sean is joined by Emma Gibbs, a partner in our London office who leads our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice in the U.K., Ireland, and Israel. Emma serves institutions in highly regulated industries, helping develop strategies at the interface of the public and private sectors. Na'ama Alpert, a consultant in our Southern California office whose client experience spans private equity, technology, and electric vehicles. And Whitney Zimmerman, an associate partner in our London office. Whitney leads our research on the role of the chief strategy officer and strategy organizations. He helps client CSOs define their role and mandate. Related insights: Creating more value with corporate strategy Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick What Makes a Great Chief Strategy Officer Rethinking the role of the strategist Have you tested your strategy lately? Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In today's episode, Teradata’s chief financial officer, Claire Bramley,discusses the evolving role of finance leaders with McKinsey CFO, Eric Kutcher. Today, being a CFO requires harnessing the power of the “and” across many mandates: Playing offense and defense, leading the finance function, partnering with the broader C-suite, navigating short-term budget reallocation, and investing in strategic bets for the future, like investments in sustainability. Claire Bramley, CFO of Teradata, discusses what it takes to navigate the macro and micro forces driving today’s unpredictable environment with McKinsey’s CFO Eric Kutcher. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

New research shows that programmatic M&A helps companies outperform peers more than ever, creating value and resilience, even during a pandemic. In this episode the authors of our recent research on M&A discuss their latest findings that programmatic M&A—doing many small and midsize deals—helps build resilience in addition to outperformance over peers. Jeff Rudnicki and Tobias Lundberg lead our M&A strategy work globally, and Patrick McCurdy is global co-lead of our M&A capability building work. They were joined by Joanna Stone Herman, a partner at the M&A advisory firm Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In this second episode of our Voices of CEO Excellence interview with Ken Frazier, the former executive chairman and CEO of Merck candidly reflects on how he managed past crises. Frazier discusses his decision-making process around the litigation trial concerning Merck’s pain-relief drug Vioxx, and how his employees ensured that a potentially crippling cyber attack did not stop production of critical medicines. He also speaks about how his most important advisor, his wife Andrea, has kept him grounded. Frazier spoke with Vik Malhotra, former chairman of McKinsey’s Americas region and co-author of last year’s New York Times bestseller, CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest and Steve Van Kuiken, a former leader in our Life Sciences Practice and global leader of McKinsey Technology. Listen to other episodes in our Voices of CEO Excellence series: Blackstone’s chairman, CEO, and cofounder, Stephen Schwarzman Morgan Stanley’s chairman and CEO, James Gorman Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Take a masterclass with 67 of the world’s highest-performing CEOs and order your copy of the New York Times bestseller, CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

As CEO of Merck, Ken Frazier gained the respect of his employees, shareholders, and the broader community - both through the company’s performance during his 11-year tenure and also through his handling of several tests of his leadership. Now Merck’s former executive chairman, he recently shared how his experience growing up during the Civil Rights Movement shaped his career, how he ensured that science stayed at the core of Merck’s mission, and how he sees business’s role in society. In this, the first of two new episodes Frazier recorded for our Voices of CEO Excellence series, he spoke with Vik Malhotra, former chairman of our Americas region and co-author of last year’s New York Times bestseller, CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest and Steve Van Kuiken, a former leader in our Life Sciences Practice and global leader of McKinsey Technology. Listen to other episodes in our Voices of CEO Excellence series: Blackstone’s chairman, CEO, and cofounder, Stephen Schwarzman Morgan Stanley’s chairman and CEO, James Gorman Join our LinkedIn community of nearly 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Take a masterclass with 67 of the world’s highest-performing CEOs and order your copy of the New York Times bestseller, CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest. Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Congratulations, you’re a new CFO—now hit the ground running with these seven key mindsets and practices that effective CFOs adopt from day one. Joining Sean for this episode is Andy West, the global co-leader of McKinsey's Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice, Ankur Agrawal, a partner based in our New York office who leads our CFO and Capital Markets Practice in the Americas, Christian Grube, a partner in our Munich office, and he leads our CFO and Capital Markets practice across Europe, and Lauren Cooks Levitan, the CFO of Faire, a global wholesale e-commerce marketplace. Articles mentioned in this episode: Starting up as a CFO The evolution of the CFO The Bias Busters Collection The new CFO mandate: Prioritize, transform, repeat Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore more Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.comSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

What does purposeful growth look like in the retail sector? In this episode, McKinsey’s Brian Gregg speaks with two former senior executives at Nike, Christiana Shi and Stuart Hogue, about the strategies that enabled them to lead productive teams in the retail sector. The conversation touches on the importance of nurturing talent, building diverse teams, and identifying opportunities for individual and organizational growth. We are sharing today’s episode as part of an ongoing collaboration with our Growth, Marketing, and Sales Practice on the topic of growth strategy. It is also the second episode of the Practice's new podcast called C-Suite Growth Talks, which will feature conversations with leading executives about how they are successfully choosing growth, by aligning around a shared mindset, strategy, and capabilities. Links: Episode transcript C-Suite Growth Talks podcast Mckinsey.com article: 'Choosing to grow: The leader’s blueprint' Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. Explore more Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Today's episode comes directly from our recent European M&A Conference in London, which we co-hosted with Goldman Sachs. Sean spoke with the global leaders of our M&A practice after the conference to get their read on the climate for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. Mieke Van Oostende is a senior partner based in Brussels whose client work is focused on financial institutions, and Jake Henry is a senior partner in Chicago who previously co-led our work in life sciences. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members. Explore more Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com If you would like to receive alerts on our latest insights, you can sign up at McKinsey.com/scf Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

As volatility persists, companies need to be ready for a range of macroeconomic scenarios. Three authors of a recent article on the economic outlook for 2023 and beyond discuss how businesses can prepare for what may be a challenging couple of years. Michael Birshan is the global co-leader of McKinsey’s Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice and serves on the McKinsey Global Institute Council. Ezra Greenberg leads our work on macroeconomic scenarios and trends globally and is co-leader of strategic transformation services in North America. Ida Kristensen is global co-leader of the Risk and Resilience Practice. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 89,000 members. Explore more Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com If you would like to receive alerts on our latest insights, you can sign up at McKinsey.com/scf Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Corporate innovators often turn to Israel and its vibrant start-up ecosystem to meet their goals. In this episode, we continue our Committed Innovator series on Israel, talking with innovators from three large organizations about how they approach their relations with start-ups. Roi Bar-Kat is head of Intel Capital in Israel, Neta-Li Meiri is chief of global tech innovation for the Israeli food company Strauss Group, and David Schwartz is vice president of tech innovation for PepsiCo Labs. They spoke with innovation leader and McKinsey senior partner Erik Roth about the intersection of corporate innovation and start-up lead innovation, and how the two functions can support each other. Join our LinkedIn community of more than 88,000 members. Explore more Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com If you would like to receive alerts on our latest insights, you can sign up at McKinsey.com/scf Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information