Podcast
McKinsey Future of Asia
Hosted by McKinsey & Company · EN
Asia's standing in the world has changed and it is clear that where the focus was once on how quickly the region would rise, the reality is now all about how Asia will lead. In the Future of Asia Podcast, we invite leaders from across the region to discuss the power, agility and ambition of Asia and to shed light on what kind of leader Asia will be, and what this means for governments and businesses everywhere.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Advancing climate adaptation in Asia: Protecting people, protecting growth
2w ago00:18:31Tap to summarizeGlobal spending on climate adaptation is running at roughly a third of what protecting everyone exposed today would require. At 2°C of warming, the gap widens further still. The economic case for closing it is strong, and yet investment remains far short of what the science demands In this episode, host Debbi Cheong speaks with Mekala Krishnan, co-author of McKinsey Global Institute’s Advancing Adaptation report, and Yuito Yamada, Senior Partner at McKinsey. Together they examine where the adaptation gap is largest, why heat and drought account for more than three quarters of spending needs, and how Asia sits at the centre of the challenge. The return on adaptation investment is clear: the spend on resilience today returns roughly three times its cost in avoided damage, rising to seven as hazards worsen. The long-term value is clear, so what will it take to translate that case into action at the scale the problem demands? Read the report on the McKinsey Global Institute website here: https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/advancing-adaptation-mapping-costs-from-cooling-to-coastal-defensesSee www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →How foreign direct investment is shaping future business
Mar 2000:27:36Tap to summarizeForeign direct investment is increasingly being channeled into future-shaping industries, reconfiguring trade networks. In this Future of Asia Podcast episode, host Debbi Cheong talks to McKinsey experts Jeongmin Seong and Tiago Devesa, two of the authors of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) report, The FDI shake-up: How foreign direct investment today may shape industry and trade tomorrow, about the impact of new FDI announcements globally. They focus on Asia, which accounts for about 50 percent of global trade flows, and its central role in the new configurations of trade.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →Leading a metabolic health revolution in Asia
Nov 2700:19:51Tap to summarizeGovernments and health systems across Asia aspire to shift toward proactive, preventive care. Yet historically, prevention budgets and policies haven’t matched the rhetoric, leaving reactive treatment models dominant. Today, a new era of change is emerging — from public health initiatives and infrastructure planning to pharmaceutical and wearable-driven innovation — signaling that prevention and treatment are on track to converge for better outcomes. Can Asia become the first region to truly integrate prevention and innovation at scale? In this episode, host Debbi Cheong is joined by Hemant Ahlawat, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company in Zurich, and Panco Georgiev, Senior Partner in Dubai.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →Respect above all: Narayana Murthy’s core business belief
Oct 1500:21:53Tap to summarizeNarayana Murthy, founder of Indian technology services and consulting giant, Infosys, discusses the vital role that respect and compassion play for him in being a successful business leadSee www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →Exploring the frontier: Technology trends in Asia
Oct 600:28:06Tap to summarizeCutting-edge technologies present exciting possibilities for organizations, but their full potential needs to be unlocked. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →Mazumdar-Shaw’s bold biotech mission: Affordable, accessible healthcare
Sep 200:33:37Tap to summarizeBiotech entrepreneurs across Asia are navigating funding gaps, weak innovation ecosystems, and unpredictable regulatory systems. For many, these challenges make it difficult to scale science-led businesses and deliver affordable healthcare solutions. In this episode, host Gautam Kumra, Chairman of McKinsey Asia, sits down with Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Founder & Chairperson, Biocon Group. They discuss how she overcame a lack of funding, limited infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles to build one of Asia’s first and most successful biotech companies — pioneering affordable biosimilars, shaping biotech policy in India, and scaling purpose-driven innovation from the ground up. The episode also features McKinsey partner Cheryl SH Lim, and Director of Learning, CEO Institute, Jennifer Chiang.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →Propelling Indonesia's productivity: Reaching high income by 2045
Aug 1500:27:50Tap to summarizeIndonesia has set an ambition to become a high-income economy by 2045. Is this possible? Two McKinsey experts discuss how it could be and what actions would need to be taken to achieve it. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →Trade, tech, and geopolitics in Asia in 2025: A post-Davos discussion
Mar 21, 202500:31:34Tap to summarizeBusiness leaders are facing an unprecedented mix of economic shifts, AI breakthroughs, and trade realignments. Traditional strategies no longer guarantee stability, and companies must rethink their approach. In this episode, host Clay Chandler, Executive Editor for Asia at Fortune, speaks with Gautam Kumra, Chairman of McKinsey Asia, and Joe Ngai, Chairman of McKinsey’s Greater China offices. They share insights from the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, discuss Asia’s evolving role in global markets, and explore what it takes for businesses to stay competitive.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →Talking about the hard stuff: Where are we in the energy transition?
Jan 16, 202500:27:29Tap to summarizeIn this episode, McKinsey senior partners Chris Bradley and Vishal Agarwal, alongside host Janet Bush, dive into the complexities of aligning global economies with sustainability goals. As businesses and governments face increasing pressure to embrace sustainable practices amid rapid economic changes, finding a balance between growth and environmental responsibility becomes more challenging. The experts discuss how organizations can navigate these challenges by adopting innovative strategies that promote sustainability while fostering long-term economic resilience.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
Transcribe →Beyond 9-5: The power of spiritual health at work
Sep 30, 202400:19:49Tap to summarizeA global survey by the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) revealed that spiritual health is incredibly important to people – with the majority of respondents ranking it from 'somewhat' to 'extremely' important. But what exactly is spiritual health, and how does it influence an employee's personal and professional life? In this episode of the McKinsey Future of Asia Podcast, host Debbi Cheong sits down with an expert panel to explore this topic. She's joined by Jacqueline Brassey, Senior Fellow at MHI; Kana Enomoto, Partner in Washington D.C.; and Atsushi Sorita, Partner in Tokyo. Together, they unpack the findings of MHI's global survey and discuss the role of spiritual health in the workplace. Listen in as they share practical insights on how integrating spiritual health initiatives can enhance employee engagement, improve retention, and foster a more resilient workforce.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
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