Podcast
Inside the Strategy Room
Hosted by McKinsey & Company · EN
We talk with McKinsey partners and corporate executives on the challenges they face creating lasting strategies in a fast-changing world. We also examine the different ways these executives approach these challenges and the new and innovative ways they think of creating a vision for their enterprises.
41episodes
Episodes
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264. Creating value through separations
Aug 14, 202500:45:22Tap to summarizeDivestiture is one of the least discussed aspects of M&A, and yet separations can be a highly effective way of creating value. In this week’s episode, Sean speaks with two McKinsey experts on separations and spin-offs about their latest research on the subject. Jamie Koenig coleads our separations and spin-off client work globally and is a partner in our New York office. He has more than a decade of experience helping clients navigate complex transactions, having worked on hundreds of deals, and has a particular passion for building new companies via spin-offs. Anna Mattsson is the global co-lead of our separations and spin-offs client service line. She is a partner in our Zurich office and has 20 years of experience helping clients deliver value through M&A, divestitures, and spin-offs. The two are co-authors of our recent article on separations.Related insights When separating businesses, people are the key to unleashing value The cost of (un)doing businessWhy speed matters in divestitures What it takes to make separations a competitive difference-maker M&A Annual Report: Is the wave finally arriving? Active portfolio management: Five practical insights for value creation The equity story you need for the long-term investors you want McKinsey Insights on M&A McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedInSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →263. How Strategy Champions win
Aug 7, 202500:57:16Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Sean talks with four strategy experts who share the findings of their new research into the practices that separate companies that succeed at building and executing an excellent strategy from those that do not. You can read more about their research in the new McKinsey Quarterly article titled, How Strategy Champions win. Alex D'Amico co-leads our strategy work globally and leads it in North America. He is a senior partner in our Connecticut office where he helps companies across industries shape enterprise strategy, undertake cultural transformations, rapidly boost performance, and redesign organizations to sustain results. Alejandro Krell co-leads our strategy work globally with Alex and leads our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice in Latin America. He is a senior partner in our Panama City office where he advises companies across the financial services, manufacturing, mining, retail, and telecom sectors on addressing strategic challenges and making lasting performance improvements. Semyon Yakovlev leads our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice across Asia and is a senior partner in our Seoul office. He serves clients on strategic and performance improvement programs, working with major banking groups, insurance companies, tech companies, and public sector institutions. Whitney Zimmerman is a core leader of our strategy work and an associate partner in our London office. He also leads our work on the role of the chief strategy officer, helping CSOs define and succeed in their roles, and he led our latest research on strategy capabilities and practices. Related insights Have you tested your strategy lately? How programmatic M&A fosters long-term resilience How AI is transforming strategy development Strategy to beat the odds The strategy leader’s evolving mandate Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick Rewired: The McKinsey guide to outcompeting in the age of digital and AI McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →262. Workday’s CEO on driving growth and transformation in the age of AI
Jul 31, 202500:29:54Tap to summarizeCarl Eschenbach joined Workday in December 2022 to serve as co-CEO alongside Co-Founder Aneel Bhusri before becoming sole CEO in February 2024. In this episode, our North America Chair and senior partner, Eric Kutcher, talks with Carl about taking a ‘co-existence’ view of the role of AI in the workforce as a source of productivity, building an endurable company with a growth mindset culture, and the responsibility of leaders to serve the success of others. Related Insights Becoming CEO—just in time for a global crisis: David Gitlin How Judy Marks leads Otis Worldwide Corporation through uncertainty and technological evolution Data, analytics, and decisions: An interview with Teradata’s CFO Palo Alto Networks CFO on AI, cybersecurity, and the finance leader’s mandate The Strategic CEO newsletterSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →261. Retired US Navy Admiral Eric Olson: Leading effectively in uncertain times
Jul 24, 202500:28:08Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we speak with Eric Olson, a retired US Navy Admiral with a distinguished career in special operations, about the key principles of effective leadership, particularly in times of uncertainty. Eric shares insights from his experiences leading high-performing teams and organizations through complex challenges, offering valuable leadership lessons for executives in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Related insights: A CEO for All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets that Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs learn to lead from the inside out Trusted advice for effective leadership The CEO as chief resilience officer The Strategic CEO newsletter McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →260. Boosting growth through innovation
Jul 20, 202500:39:41Tap to summarizeEven in a highly uncertain business environment, companies that build new businesses and develop new offerings, processes, and business models are better able to capture growth opportunities and hedge against disruption. Our recent survey of more than 1,000 companies around the world reflected this, with the largest share of respondents identifying the ability to innovate as their most important strategic factor for generating growth over the coming 12 months. To discuss the survey and talk about the innovation activities top performers are focusing on today, Sean Brown is joined by Rebecca Doherty, Matt Banholzer, and Clayton O’Toole. Rebecca co-leads our Strategic Growth and Innovation practice and is a partner in our San Francisco office. She works extensively with health care, industrial, and technology clients to define and execute growth road maps. Matt co-leads our Global Strategic Growth and Innovation practice with Rebecca and is a senior partner in our Chicago office. He also sits on the leadership team of our business-building practice, and serves organizations on innovation strategy across a range of sectors, including energy, materials, and agriculture. Clayton is a leader in our Strategy & Corporate Finance and Consumer Tech and Media practices in North America and is a partner based in our Minnesota office. He serves a wide range of clients including media organizations, sports leagues; food, apparel, and hardlines retailers; consumer packaged goods companies, and principal investors. Related Insights How top performers use innovation to grow within and beyond the core The eight essentials of innovation Revolutionary innovations propelling growthSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →259. Risk, Resilience, and Innovation: Insights from AXIS Capital's Vincent Tizzio
Jul 10, 202500:32:09Tap to summarizeVince Tizzio is President and CEO of AXIS, a specialty insurance and reinsurance company that delivers customized solutions to organizations worldwide. Since taking on the role in May 2023, Vince has led AXIS on an ambitious transformation journey. In this episode, he speaks with McKinsey senior partner and North America Chair Eric Kutcher about what it means to take on the CEO role, how to lead through significant change with conviction and care, the kind of exposures companies should consider in today’s complex risk landscape, and how to be deliberate about investing in AI. Related Insights Becoming CEO, just in time for global crisis: David Gitlin, Chairman and CEO of Carrier Global Corporation Transforming for growth Stepping up: Becoming a high-potential CEO candidate How boards can tackle geopolitical risk How Judy Marks leads Otis Worldwide Corporation through uncertainty and technological evolution The art of 21st-century leadership: From succession planning to building a leadership factory Author Talks: IBM’s Ginni Rometty on leading with ‘good power’ Getting fit for growth: The leadership mindsets and behaviors that matter CEO Perspectives The Strategic CEO newsletter McKinsey Insights on Transformation McKinsey Transformation on LinkedIn McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →258. Andy Mattes on the challenges of driving M&A as CEO
Jul 4, 202500:33:48Tap to summarizeMergers and acquisitions are among the more complex processes new CEOs have to learn, whether they’re in the role for the first time or taking over at a new company. Andreas “Andy” W. Mattes has navigated this multiple times in his roles as CEO of Siemens Communications, Diebold, and later of Diebold Nixdorf, and now of the laser technology company Coherent. In this discussion with M&A practice leader Jake Henry, Andy talks about the roller-coaster ride that M&A can be, and the critical M&A skills he had to learn as a CEO, including how to best deal with competing bids and making time to commune with other CEOs. Jake is the global co-leader of McKinsey’s M&A Practice, which includes mergers, acquisitions, integrations, joint ventures, and divestitures. He previously led our Life Sciences Practice globally, where he guided pharmaceutical and medical-technology company executives on matters of corporate strategy, growth strategy, and operational excellence for more than twenty years. Related insights CEOs in M&A: Five actions only the chief executive can take Uncertainty in M&A: Postcards from the new normal M&A Annual Report: Is the wave finally arriving? What makes a successful CEO? The loneliest job? How top CEOs manage dilemmas and vulnerability CEO excellence: How do leaders assess their own performance? CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead From the Inside Out McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn McKinsey Insights on M&ASupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →257. The new and timeless truths of valuation
Jun 25, 202500:49:58Tap to summarizeMeasuring value creation is critical, as company leaders grapple with geopolitical shifts, digital disruption, and other trends affecting their businesses. Two co-authors of the new edition of Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies join Sean today to discuss what they’ve learned over the course of writing and updating their book, which is now in its eighth edition, with more than 1 million copies sold worldwide Author Tim Koller is a core leader in our Corporate Finance Practice and a Partner in our Denver office. In more than 40 years of consulting, he’s served clients globally on corporate strategy, capital markets, acquisitions, divestitures, and resource allocation. Co-author Marc Goedhart is a senior expert in our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice based in Amsterdam. He’s also an endowed professor of corporate valuation at the Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University in the Netherlands. Related insights Valuation 8th edition Subscribe to The Valuation Practitioner newsletter on LinkedIn Author Talks: What’s new in Valuation? Bubbles pop, downturns stop Bias Busters: Getting both sides of the story Biases in decision-making: A guide for CFOs Is your ‘conglomerate discount’ a performance discount or a communication problem? Tying short-term decisions to long-term strategy What I learned from Daniel Kahneman McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedInSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →256. Doug Parker, former Chairman and CEO of American Airlines, shares leadership lessons
Jun 19, 202500:38:23Tap to summarizeAs CEO challenges go, facing a global threat that is existential not just for your company but for your industry is among the worst possible. American Airlines’ former Chairman and CEO, Doug Parker, has been through this twice while leading an airline, following the 9/11 attacks in New York and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, he speaks with McKinsey Senior Partner Celia Huber about how these experiences helped him become a better leader. Doug Parker has served as CEO of three airlines: America West, US Airways, and American Airlines. He currently serves on the board of Qantas. Celia Huber is a McKinsey senior partner in our Bay Area office, where she leads our board services work in North America. Related insights Better together: Three ways to boost board–CEO collaboration The State of Aviation 2025 Geopolitical resilience: The new board imperative Resilience pulse check: Harnessing collaboration to navigate a volatile world McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance McKinsey Insights on M&A McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedInSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →255. Building transformation momentum through working capital optimization
Jun 13, 202500:42:03Tap to summarizeHolistic transformations are complex and can take a long time to show full results. By optimizing working capital early on, companies can help score early wins to create momentum and excite stakeholders across the organization. In this episode, Sean talks with two McKinsey transformation experts about how to identify and achieve these working capital improvements to maximize the impact of a transformation. Jacob Rüden is a partner in our Transformation Practice, based in Cologne, and he leads our cash excellence work globally. He has more than 20 years of experience serving clients in transformation and on cash and working capital engagements across sectors, including automotive, energy, chemicals, transportation, consumer goods, and retail. And Marvin Denis is an expert in our Transformation Practice, based in New York. He's a core member of our cash excellence service line and co-leader of our cash solutions globally. He works across sectors, including automotive, chemicals, consumer goods, and retail. Related insights Gain transformation momentum early by optimizing working capital Building optionality: Balance sheet discipline is both timely and timeless Succeeding in the AI supply-chain revolution A data-driven approach to improving net working capital McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn McKinsey Insights on Transformation McKinsey Transformation on LinkedIn Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
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