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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
External stakeholders and board engagement
Personal working norms | Crisis response

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.
Watch the interview

Corporate Strategy

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

Navigating through change: An interview with NXP Semiconductors’ Kurt Sievers
– A new CEO reflects on the past year and looks at what’s ahead for semiconductors.
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.
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.
Video

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

‘Car dealers must become technology companies’: An interview with the CEO of Vertu Motors
– Robert Forrester, CEO of one of the UK’s largest motor retailers, predicts that most people will continue to buy cars from... dealerships—but that only tech-savvy dealers will stay in business.
Podcast

Increasing productivity in healthcare: An interview with Allen Karp of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
– In a value-based economic model, payers' strength will be to bring analytic capability, operational capability, technology, and... customer relationships to the table. But the care will be delivered and managed at the physician level, at that point of service.
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 - Learn to Leap #9

Using built-in advantages and innovation to scale
– A commitment to partners, flexibility, and a good relationship with Bosch, the parent company, enabled scale to happen quickly... for S&ST.
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.
Podcast

Clone or create: A conversation with Aaron Tan, CEO of Carro
– Building a new business isn’t necessarily about creating an entirely new business model but about understanding the market... and where the opportunities lie, according to the CEO of Southeast Asia’s largest automobile marketplace.
Interview - Learn to Leap #2

Achieving M&A success by letting start-up acquisitions be themselves
– Acquiring a start-up is only the beginning. Successful integration takes time, a shared vision, and a strategy to get there.
Video

Opportunities in packaging: An interview with Sealed Air’s president and CEO, Ted Doheny
– McKinsey’s Shekhar Varanasi spoke with Sealed Air’s president and CEO, Ted Doheny, about the challenges and opportunities... in the packaging sector, as well as its future direction.
Video

Winning in the new age of packaging: An interview with WestRock’s CEO, Steve Voorhees
– McKinsey’s Nick Santhanam spoke with WestRock CEO Steve Voorhees to gain his perspective on packaging sector and the road ahead.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Compound growth at MilliporeSigma
– CEO Udit Batra describes what it took to fuse two vibrant R&D organizations, as well as the business value realized from their... integration.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

New carmaker on the block: Byton’s CEO on China’s car of the future
– Carsten Breitfeld, an industry veteran turned disruptor, explains how his Chinese-conceived, globally oriented start-up is tuned... for the emerging mobility transformation. 
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Powering mobility’s future: An interview with WiTricity’s Alex Gruzen
– A leader at the forefront of wireless electricity explains why cars are going electric, electric is going wireless, and the mobility... ecosystem is headed for major change.
Podcast

Start up & scale up: A conversation with Box CEO Aaron Levie
– The cloud-service cofounder and CEO talks about innovation, disruption, and harnessing the next big thing.
Podcast

Inside the strategy room: One CEO’s approach
– Deanna Mulligan, president and CEO of Guardian Life Insurance, reflects on how she approaches strategy planning in an industry... with strong headwinds.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Digitizing dairy in China
– The CEO of China’s second-largest dairy company describes how data and artificial intelligence are shaking up how he does... business.

Organization and team

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

‘Keep it simple’: Aditya Puri on HDFC Bank’s path to market leadership
– The recently retired founder–CEO of India’s highest-valued financial institution reflects on how customer-focused... innovation and disciplined risk management led to strong performance.
Interview - Learn to Leap #11

How to plan a successful leadership succession at a start-up
– After spending ten years turning their start-up into a highly profitable unicorn business, the cofounders of PropertyGuru were... able to successfully hand over the reins of the business and safeguard its continued success.
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.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

All in: From recovery to agility at Spark New Zealand
– Three members of the telco’s top team describe the challenges and rewards of implementing agile rapidly—and the power... of a “no plan B” approach to change.
Commentary - McKinsey Quarterly

Building data-driven culture: An interview with ShopRunner CEO Sam Yagan
– Sam Yagan, current ShopRunner CEO, cofounder of OkCupid, and former Match Group CEO, discusses the importance of culture for driving... data-based decision making, innovation, and, ultimately, company success.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Taking digital transformation to the limits at Koç Holding
– The CEO and HR director of Turkey’s largest industrial conglomerate describe how a leadership-development program is preparing... the company for a digital future—and shaking up the status quo.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Building a tech-enabled ecosystem: An interview with Ping An’s Jessica Tan
– A culture of innovation and failing fast drives the Chinese financial conglomerate’s expansion beyond traditional sector... boundaries and its early adoption of emerging technologies.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Digging deep for organizational innovation
– Organizational simplicity. Clear accountabilities. Nimble planning processes. All characterize a scrappy oil and gas company you... may not have heard of. Learn more from its CEO.
Podcast - McKinsey Quarterly

Microsoft’s next act
– CEO Satya Nadella talks about innovation, disruption, and organizational change.
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.

External stakeholders and board engagement

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.
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.
Podcast

Laxman Narasimhan, CEO of Reckitt Benckiser, on corporate purpose during a crisis
– Reckitt Benckiser’s CEO reflects on his experience transitioning into the leadership role and driving strategic change during... the global pandemic.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Rallying around purpose: An interview with the managing director and CEO of Insurance Australia Group
– Digital technologies are important, but “good, old-fashioned trust” is indispensable, says Peter Harmer.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Declaration of interdependence: B Lab Global’s Andrew Kassoy
– The CEO and cofounder of B Lab Global explains how business leaders can create the most value for shareholders, stakeholders,... and society by recognizing the interdependencies that bind them together.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Leading with purpose and humanity: A conversation with Hubert Joly
– Best Buy’s former chairman and CEO reflects on a business’s reason for being by defining it around purpose and humanity, the link... to competitive advantage, and managing shareholders and stakeholders during a crisis and beyond.
Article - McKinsey Quarterly

Taking ownership of a sustainable future
– Three CEOs offer lessons on their pursuit of sustainability.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

‘Bring the problem forward’: Larry Fink on climate risk
– The physical impact of climate change will lead to a major capital reallocation, says the head of BlackRock, the world’s largest... asset manager.

Personal working norms

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

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

Crisis response

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.
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

Speeding up to become even more consumer-obsessed: An interview with GSK’s Keith Choy
– The leader of GlaxoSmithKline’s Asia–Pacific Consumer Healthcare group describes how his organization is speeding... up to serve consumers, despite the heightened uncertainty of COVID-19.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Why a cut-and-paste approach to digital transformation won’t cut it: An interview with the founder of Biocon
– Asian companies can reap many benefits if they not only embrace but also truly understand digital innovation, says Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.
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

Software and the next normal: A talk with Workday’s cofounder and co-CEO
– Aneel Bhusri discusses serving customers as the COVID-19 crisis began, the limitations of remote work, data’s importance for employee... diversity, and why companies need to have souls.
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

Private equity and the pandemic: An interview with the CEO of Hahn & Company
– Scott Sang-Won Hahn, CEO of the South Korean private-equity firm Hahn & Company, discusses forces at work in his country and... how the dynamics unleashed by COVID-19 are an impetus for change.
Interview

Critical communications infrastructure and COVID-19: An interview with Ericsson’s CEO
– Börje Ekholm discusses the impact of the crisis on global telecom networks and the coming 5G transition, as well as the future... of work and challenges to the physical and mental health of employees.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Safeguarding the lifeblood of American healthcare: An interview with the CEO of AmerisourceBergen
– Steve Collis reflects on the resilience of medical supply chains, remote leadership during a crisis, and the importance of purpose... as a unifying force.
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.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

Rewriting the playbook: How Union Pacific is conducting business during the pandemic
– The chairman and CEO of a railroad heavyweight reflects on what keeps him going, how past challenges have prepared him for today’s,... and how his leadership approach has changed during the pandemic.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

How Asia’s largest pharma is leveraging its values to navigate the COVID-19 crisis
– Christophe Weber, CEO of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, discusses challenges to globalization, principles in the face of crises, and... new opportunities when companies pull together.
Interview - McKinsey Quarterly

How the State Bank of India is learning from crisis
– Rajnish Kumar, chairman of India’s largest bank, discusses COVID-19, digital transformation, and the future of work in financial... services.
Interview

Helping patients where they are: An interview with the president of CVS Caremark
– Alan Lotvin, who leads one of America’s largest pharmacy-benefits companies, discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the US healthcare... system and how to improve services and patient outcomes.
Interview

Mounting a data-driven crisis response: An interview with the CEO of Aledade
– Farzad Mostashari discusses how innovative analytics systems and federal–local collaboration are helping government and healthcare... leaders fight COVID-19.
Interview

Treating COVID-19: A pharmaceutical executive’s view
– Cedric Francois, the CEO of pharmaceutical company Apellis, discusses possible approaches to treating COVID-19 patients.
Interview

Adapting healthcare to COVID-19: An interview with the CEO of Boston Medical Center
– Kate Walsh shares how Boston Medical Center, New England’s largest safety-net hospital, has had to adapt to the pandemic—and why... there’s no going back.
Interview

Thermo Fisher Scientific CEO Marc Casper on provisioning the front lines in the pandemic
– Governments, healthcare providers, and pharmaceutical companies are battling COVID-19 on different fronts. Thermo Fisher Scientific... is at the nexus of all of these endeavors.
Interview

The CEO of Blue Shield of California on scaling up coronavirus testing
– Paul Markovich, who coleads California’s COVID-19 Testing Task Force, describes the goals, challenges, and early achievements... of a statewide effort to increase the volume of coronavirus testing.