From reimagining the alphabet to reminiscing about the first walk on the moon, we’ve chronicled several of our noteworthy moments as a firm in our New at McKinsey stories this year.
In 2019, McKinsey had a number of firsts. We won three Red Dot Awards for design excellence, one of which recognized the launch of our new visual identity. We took a bold step into the world of open-source software development with Kedro, our first publicly available analytics tool. And we opened a brick-and-mortar store, a tech-enabled showcase of retail innovation at Mall of America.
We saluted alumni who launched billion-dollar startups and early-tenured colleagues who were recognized for their volunteerism in Atlanta. We shared advice for early-career women and future LGBTQ+ leaders. And all along the way, we introduced you to the automotive engineers, behavioralists, cancer researchers, data scientists, designers, digital experts, strategists, teachers, and other experts we’re proud to call colleagues.
A number of our high points this year reflect the increasing importance of analytics, artificial intelligence, design, and digital technology, which comprise a growing portion of the work we do for clients.
One of our most read stories on that front covered our partnership with the World Economic Forum to identify 16 “lighthouse factories” around the planet, cutting-edge plants that are humming along with the most advanced AI, digital, and robotic technologies. As lighthouses, they open their doors and share their expertise to advance the overall digitization of manufacturing, operations, and the future of work.
We also introduced you to Leap, our specialized unit of digital experts, entrepreneurs, and innovators that has helped clients build more than 300 digital businesses from scratch—many in just months—using new models, bleeding-edge technology, and the latest thinking.
Finally, we wrote about the way that all of these technologies might shape the world in which we live for the better. Our research on AI for social good, for instance, helps organizations that use analytics better deploy precious resources, protect endangered species, strengthen healthcare, and significantly extend education.
So as you start to wind down the year, why not take a moment to catch up on a few good McKinsey stories you may have missed? But before you go, we want to say thank you for reading this year. We look forward to seeing you in 2020.