Inside the Strategy Room

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. Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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. Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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. Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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.   Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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   Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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 Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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 Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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 Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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 Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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         Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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    Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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   Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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   Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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   Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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   Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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   Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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   Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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  Join 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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.comJoin 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: 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.comJoin 90,000 other members of our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information