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McKinsey Talks Operations

Cutting through the noise to transform strategy into lasting operations success

McKinsey Talks Operations is where the world’s C-suite leaders and McKinsey experts cut through the noise and uncover how to create a new operational reality. Each episode, blog, and event considers the challenges companies and economies are facing, and the opportunities leaders can seize for competitive advantage.

Join regular hosts Daphne Luchtenberg and Christian Johnson to look at how to connect boardroom strategy to the frontline, ways to increase performance, where and when to infuse operations with technology, and why empowering the workforce is key to success.

Latest episode

A technical support manager at a call center sits in between two colleagues as she instructs them on how to assist customers.

Innovation hubs: How GCCs are shaping the future of business

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Global capability centers (GCCs) are rapidly evolving beyond their traditional roles as execution centers, becoming increasingly important as enterprise innovation hubs.

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Recent episodes

A male and female engineer in hard hats walking on factory floor and discussing the facility's machinery.
Podcast
Future-proofing operations: How tech and talent go hand in hand
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Talent management starts by addressing workforce challenges, adapting to generational needs, leveraging technology in operations, and developing leadership for talent retention.
A hand holding a mobile phone with two pixelated chat bubbles and an AI bot icon against a clear blue sky.
Podcast
The evolution of customer care: AI and the Gen Z effect
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Gen Z’s influence on consumer behavior and employment trends is driving contact center leaders to integrate AI, adapt to market changes, and implement holistic strategies for customer care.
A woman jumps from one large rock to another while hiking in The Racetracks region of Death Valley.
Podcast
When failure is an option: Fostering organizational innovation and learning
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To achieve sustainable innovation, companies can embrace failure as a catalyst for driving change. Capability centers can enhance performance and promote learning in high-stakes operations.
Open refrigerator in a supermarket showcase brandless packagings and bottles of juice, coffee, energy drinks, water, smoothies, salad, puree, and diverse food items.
Podcast
How product design can yield ‘triple wins’: Growth, margin, and sustainability
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Some consumer companies have simultaneously increased sales, cut costs, and reduced carbon emissions. Their secret? Paying closer attention to the design of their products and packaging.
Multicolored glowing futuristic digital data streams and network structures symbolizing AI concept in a digitally generated image
Podcast
Generative AI in operations: Capturing the value
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Uncover the transformative power of generative AI within the operations value chain—shaping C-suite discussions across industries.
An abstract staircase with multi colored doors on different flights and one door is open with light coming out.
Podcast
Navigating the new normal: Operations insights for 2024
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Uncover a new operational reality in 2024—where productivity, technology enablement, and sustainability are the key drivers of future success.
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Podcast
Manufacturing Africa’s future: Jobs, growth, and sustainability
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Africa’s anticipated population surge by 2050 will require robust job creation. Could the manufacturing sector provide roles for the next generation?
Female executive sharing her financial report with team during a staff meeting.
Podcast
Unlocking operational evolution: The zero-basing philosophy
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Zero-basing transcends cost cutting—offering leaders visibility into operations, investment, and growth strategies.

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Recent episodes

Operational
Podcast
Operational excellence: How purpose and technology can power performance
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Next-generation operational excellence is more than doing things well. It’s about uniting an organization around a common...
Rows of cans
Podcast
Skinny design: Smaller is better
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The ability to improve cost savings, sustainability, and consumer benefits has proven skinny design packaging to be a powerful...
Woman holding laptop and listening on smartphone
Podcast
Myth busters: Unexpected insights on contact centers
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By using facts rather than outdated assumptions, companies can shape their customer service strategies to better answer consumer...
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Podcast
McKinsey Talks Operations: How the best from 2022 can power 2023
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Listen in as we recap this year’s critical conversations with industry experts on the real operational challenges being...
Electric vehicle charging station
Podcast
Batteries included: Building and operating sustainable gigafactories
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As the demand for electric vehicles grows, so does the demand for the batteries to power them. Meeting that demand will require...
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Podcast
Digital twins: Flying high, flexing fast
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Digital design and product development can provide new ways to solve complex problems. Getting implementation right means thoughtfully...
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Podcast
114 down, 10 million to go: The Global Lighthouse Network’s mission
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Global Lighthouse Network members show that Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies help to deliver better workforce engagement,...
Building covered with vertical garden in the city
Podcast
Sustainable spaces: Countering climate risk in capital projects
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By taking a deeper, more comprehensive approach to understanding risk, companies can mitigate climate hazards and build resilience...
Full length of young woman flexing muscles while standing in front of white doorway against blue background
Podcast
Inflation fighter and value creator: Procurement’s best-kept secret
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New sources of value are available for businesses that use their procurement function to combat persistent inflation and build...
Abstract artistic human head portrait made of dotted particles array. Digital soul, spirit of technological time
Podcast
Digital twins: What could they do for your business?
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Less waste, shorter times to market, constant customer insights: the advantages of applying digital twins are many—if you...
Neon speech bubbles
Podcast
The hidden value of voice conversations: Part 1, Trends and technologies
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Understanding more of what their customers are saying can help contact centers provide new sources of competitive advantage.
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Podcast
The hidden value of voice conversations: Part 2, Reaping the rewards
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Voice analytics can help you understand more about what your customers are saying—if you know how to select and apply the...
Illustration of a woman at work on laptop
Podcast
People and places: How and where to work next
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Selling, general, and administrative functions are integral to your organization’s success. What’s the best place...
Background of cola with ice and bubbles
Podcast
Coca-Cola: The people-first story of a digital transformation
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With thousands to train, the transformation of Coca-Cola’s commercial product supply operations needed buy-in from the...
Miami's new overpass
Podcast
How to manage the coming wave of investment in capital projects
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About $130 trillion is expected to flow into infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. How can companies spend that most...
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Podcast
Reaching net zero—what will it take?
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The quest for sustainability requires action on many fronts, with changes to supply networks, manufacturing processes, and business...
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Podcast
A digital path to sustainability
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Sustainability and productivity needn’t be at odds when enabled by Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. And with...
Engineers working on laptop in a large printer
Podcast
Smart operators: How leading companies use machine intelligence
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Despite the recent and significant advances in machine intelligence, the full scale of the opportunity is just beginning to unfold....
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Podcast
Why business must heed customer reviews
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COVID-19 has made e-commerce more competitive than ever. Paying attention to customer reviews will give organizations a necessary...
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Podcast
Prioritizing customer experience in government
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The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the necessity to center customer experience in dealings with government agencies. This...
Engineer working on a machine
Podcast
The Fourth Industrial Revolution will be people powered
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Companies at the forefront of the technology frontier are empowering their workers with digital technologies—and the skills...
Aerial view of cargo ship getting unloaded
Podcast
Diagnosing the pain in your supply chain
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The COVID-19 pandemic has knocked global supply chains off their axes. But CEOs and other leaders can build resilience into their...
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Podcast
Supply-chain resilience: Is there a holy grail?
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Supply-chain disruptions cost the average organization 45 percent of one year’s profits over the course of a decade. How...
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Podcast
McKinsey Talks Operations
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The new podcast from McKinsey’s Operations Practice explores cutting through the noise to transform strategy into lasting operations...

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Forward Thinking

Forward Thinking

From the McKinsey Global Institute, conversations with today’s thought leaders to inspire tomorrow. Co-hosts Michael Chui and Janet Bush interview innovative thinkers and industry pioneers to explore the trends reshaping the global economy today and in the future.

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