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Strategy & Corporate Finance
Strategy & Corporate Finance
Back to CEO Excellence

CEO perspectives

Interviews with CEOs sharing their perspectives on corporate strategy, organization and team, external stakeholders and board management, and their own ways of working.

Topics

Corporate strategy | Organization and team
Board of Directors | External stakeholders
Personal working norms | Crisis response

Corporate Strategy

Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Using ecosystems to reach higher: An interview with the co-CEO of Ping An

– Expect digital to further blur industry lines, supercharge scalability, and loosen geographical restraints for professional services, says Jessica Tan.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Asia at the speed of light: An interview with the head of ReNew Power
– The energy transition will remake Asia, says Sumant Sinha, managing director of ReNew Power.
Podcast

The committed innovator: An interview with Anjali Sud, CEO of Vimeo
– When a marketing executive discovered an unexpected market opportunity, she disrupted the company’s original business—and... became CEO in the process.
Video

The path to true transformation
– To deliver lasting change, companies need to take actions that both boost performance and inspire their people.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

What will (and won’t) change in the future of Asia: An interview with the CEO of DBS
– The continued economic integration of Asia will open up opportunities for savvy businesses, predicts Piyush Gupta.
Interview - Learn to Leap #10

From new business to unicorn: Scaling a new corporate business
– Quick pivots and a clear focus helped About You become the first $1 billion start-up business in Hamburg.
Interview

Building a digital New York Times: CEO Mark Thompson
– Thompson looks back on an eight-year tenure that has transformed a 170-year-old news brand into a global, digital-subscription-first... powerhouse—and at what lies ahead for its new leadership.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Stay visible—but don’t be needed: How Alain Bejjani is leading through the unexpected
– A five-year, purpose-driven digital transformation has helped the CEO of Majid Al Futtaim, and his organization, to cope with... the coronavirus pandemic.
Podcast

Transformation and resilience: An interview with Best Buy’s executive chairman Hubert Joly
– Hubert Joly shares lessons from leading the turnaround of the retail and technology giant and how it prepared him and the company... for the current crisis.

Organization and team

Interview

Author Talks: Deanna Mulligan on smart skill building

– The former chair and CEO of Guardian Insurance offers a theory of change for those hiring, retaining, and retraining the next generation of tech-savvy employees.
Interview - Learn to Leap #12

One start-up’s successful organizational approach to speed and flexibility
– Once agile practices are truly embedded in a company’s DNA, even a pandemic can’t dent its ability to respond quickly... to evolving customer needs—and the competition.
Interview

‘Making a big company feel small’: An interview with HCA Healthcare CEO Sam Hazen
– Protecting lives and livelihoods and ensuring stability remain the two main objectives for a large healthcare provider.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

How the CEO of Samsung SDS sets a course for ‘humble and speedy’
– Won-Pyo Hong, CEO of Samsung’s information- and communications-technology arm, explains how a collaborative approach helps... his South Korea–based company drive digital transformations globally.
Interview

Reskilling for a changing economy: A discussion with Glenn Youngkin
– Youngkin, chair of the Virginia Ready Initiative, talks about easing unemployment and strengthening Virginia’s economy by connecting... people with training, financial support, and job opportunities.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Prioritize people in times of crisis: An interview with the CEO of BHP
– Mike Henry explains the importance of social value in decision making and why relationships lie at the heart of business resilience.
Interview - Learn to Leap #7

When start-ups scale up: Lessons on building up culture and talent
– Financial-services company Raisin began in a basement in 2012. By constantly reflecting on and evaluating its own performance,... Raisin has been able to consistently grow.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

In disruptive times, the power comes from people: An interview with Eric Schmidt
– As we enter a new golden age of technological innovation, nurturing talent will become more critical, according to the former... chairman of Alphabet.
Video

The CEO of Guardian Life on talent in an age of digital disruption
– By rethinking its approach to talent management and introducing agile working practices, the company aims to stay a step ahead... of disruptive competitors.

Board of Directors

Interview

Author Talks: Dambisa Moyo on how boards can work better

– In her new book, Dambisa Moyo explores the role of corporate boards in the 21st century and how they need to adapt to greater demands.
Podcast

The role of boards in fostering resilience
– The lessons learned from the current crisis can help corporate boards make the organizations they serve stronger.
Podcast

Boards and decision making
– What the pandemic has taught board directors about high-consequence, low-probability decisions.
Podcast

The committed innovator: A conversation with board director Ireena Vittal
– The global innovation expert on solving the puzzle of growth in emerging markets.
Podcast

The board’s role during crisis and beyond
– Three seasoned board directors discuss the role boards are playing in guiding their companies toward recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.
Podcast

Boards and cybersecurity
– How boards should prepare for the rising cybersecurity threat

External stakeholders

Podcast

Stakeholder capitalism: A conversation with Vivian Hunt and Paul Polman

– Why companies must now compete on trust and deliver value to multiple stakeholders.
Interview

Sustainability and health are top of mind for today’s grocery retailers: An interview with Frans Muller
– Ahold Delhaize’s president and CEO explains how the Belgian grocer has prioritized employees’ mental health, leveraged... digital personalization tools to help consumers make healthy and sustainable food choices, and connected with the community through local initiatives.
Blog Post

Kris Tompkins on leadership and conservation: “We’re past the moment where inaction is acceptable.”
– The former CEO of Patagonia and president of Tompkins Conservation talks about the role private companies can play in saving the... planet.
Interview

Sustainability and growth go hand in hand: An interview with Mikko Helander
– Kesko’s CEO explains why the Finnish company, which has a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2025, views sustainability... as an integral part of its success story.
Interview

CEO Interview: CDPQ invests in climate action
– Charles Emond oversees more than $291 billion in investments around the world. He wants to see real action on climate change.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Taking stock: Catching up with Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman
– How has the global market exchange remained relevant to its stakeholders after 50 years? By embracing changes in technology, society,... and the economy and by meeting customers’ needs with innovation.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Addressing society’s pain points: An interview with the CEO of Ayala Corporation
– Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala reflects on Asia’s imperative, and his own, to find inclusive and creative solutions to complex... and uncertain challenges.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

How an Australian resources company makes ESG a priority
– Karen Wood, chair of South32, talks about what makes the company’s purpose and strategy resilient in unpredictable times.

Personal working norms

Interview

Author Talks: Hubert Joly on unleashing human magic

– The former chairman and CEO of Best Buy describes the leadership principles required to thrive in capitalism’s next era.
Interview

Author Talks: Josh Linkner on how everyday people can become everyday innovators
– In his new book, Josh Linkner offers a practical guide for turning ordinary ideas into extraordinary results.
Interview

Author Talks: Susan McPherson on building meaningful relationships—in business and in life
– In a new book, Susan McPherson offers a road map to unlocking a more meaningful life and enduring relationships.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Making a daily ‘to be’ list: How a hospital system CEO is navigating the coronavirus crisis
– Cincinnati Children’s CEO Michael Fisher is communicating with purpose, leaning into tough choices, and emphasizing trust as he... leads through uncertainty.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Speak softly, make tough decisions: An interview with Alibaba Group chairman and CEO Daniel Zhang
– The chairman and CEO of China’s e-commerce giant describes Alibaba’s approach to innovation and how he balances analytics... and instinct to push himself to spot hidden opportunities.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Ten years at the top of a telco: An interview with Vittorio Colao
– The former CEO of Vodafone, who stepped down from the top job last September, reflects on the industry’s challenges and... what he learned as a successful global dealmaker.
Article - McKinsey Quarterly

Leadership lessons from Africa’s trailblazers
– How five leaders are seizing opportunities and overcoming challenges to build successful organizations in—and a brighter... future for—the nations of Africa.
Interview

Author Talks: Karin M. Reed on virtual meetings
– In her new book, Karin M. Reed dives into our sudden shift to virtual meetings—and how to make the most of them.

Crisis response

Podcast

‘They will know a culture—you can’t fake it’: An interview with Texas Medical Center president and CEO Bill McKeon

– The COVID-19 pandemic led one of the nation’s largest healthcare providers to work around the clock to connect data, testing access, and supplies across various public and private entities.
Interview

Renesas’s Hidetoshi Shibata on leadership through difficult times
– A CEO discusses past and future strategy in the evolving semiconductor sector.
Video - McKinsey Global Institute

Nextdoor’s CEO on supporting communities through COVID-19
– The neighborhood app aims to create ‘strong weak ties’ during the crisis that help its neighbors persevere.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Driving for resilience: An interview with the CEO of India’s Tata Motors
– Guenter Butschek, CEO of Tata Motors, shares his perspectives on the COVID-19-era challenges of leading a major global automotive... company based in India, and the opportunities just up the road.
Interview

‘Prepare for the marathon and be ready for the course to change’: An interview with the Boston Logan Airport CEO
– Massachusetts Port Authority CEO Lisa Wieland discusses why the contactless passenger journey is here to stay and how she’s building... agility and flexibility for her organization.
Interview

An interview with Vyaire Medical CEO Gaurav Agarwal
– “What I love about medical devices is this enormous capability to deliver a better way of healthcare to so many people across... the world.”
Interview

Medtech innovation in the time of COVID-19: Resilience and growth during a crisis
– COVID-19 is a threat but also a call to action for organizations improving the delivery of healthcare services. Executives from... four leading medtech firms share how they have thrived during this crisis by applying their business-building capabilities.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Reliability in times of crisis: An interview with LSEG’s David Schwimmer
– The CEO of London Stock Exchange Group highlights the affirming power of organizational purpose and offers insights into decision... making, talent, and leadership in times of crisis.
Interview

How Zoetis’s new CEO reset priorities and empowered employees during the pandemic
– Kristin Peck explains how letting local managers make their own decisions has helped the animal-health company to weather the... COVID-19 crisis successfully.