Strategy & Corporate Finance Insights

What matters most? Six priorities for CEOs in turbulent times

With economic troubles mounting, it’s a time to tighten belts and put on hard hats. But don’t forget the jet pack, to accelerate into the next phase of growth.
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Article - McKinsey Quarterly

Starting strong: Making your CEO transition a catalyst for renewal
– The best CEOs use the first six to 12 months of their tenure as a moment of great personal transition and institutional renewal.... There are four keys to success.
Article

How to make investments in start-ups pay off
– Both large corporations and start-ups have much to gain from collaboration, but corporate venture capital investments need a clear... strategy, focus, and operating model.
Discussion Paper - McKinsey Global Institute

Global flows: The ties that bind in an interconnected world
– Economic and political turbulence have prompted speculation that the world is already deglobalizing. But the evidence suggests... that global integration is here to stay, albeit with nuance.
Article

Memo to public company CFOs: Private equity can show you how it’s done
– CFOs of public companies can draw enormous insight from PE’s focused, proactive approach to value creation—but they... have to take the initiative themselves. Here are five lessons to get started.
Article

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, October 2022
– Growth rebounds in the United States and China; eurozone inflation reaches new heights as tightening continues; energy, climate... reports paint a sober picture.
Article

Looking back: Meet the new P/E normal, same as the old P/E normal
– Weighted average and median P/E ratios rarely diverge significantly—and when they do, the gap soon closes.
Interview

In conversation: Four keys to merger integration success
– M&A experts share the integration practices that set the most successful large deals apart.
Article

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, September 2022
– Central banks sustain aggressive policy tightening; industrial activity picks up in emerging economies; financial-markets uncertainty... works to strengthen the dollar.
Survey

The coronavirus effect on global economic sentiment
– In the latest survey, inflation and geopolitical conflicts remain the top perceived economic risks, while concerns about energy... volatility predominate in Europe.
Survey

Economic conditions outlook, September 2022
– In stormy weather, survey respondents maintain realism about the global economy. While geopolitical conflicts and inflation remain... top of mind, concerns about energy volatility predominate in Europe.
Report - McKinsey Global Institute

Securing Europe’s competitiveness: Addressing its technology gap
– Even amid war in Europe and the energy and cost of living crisis that has resulted, the region needs to pay attention to its slow-motion... corporate and technology crisis.
Article

How effective boards approach technology governance
– As technology’s strategic importance to the business expands, management needs stronger board guidance. Four engagement... models have proven useful.

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Tim Koller on the timeless truths of corporate finance
– An expert on value creation shares insights from 20 years of leading McKinsey on Finance.
Podcast

XPO’s Brad Jacobs on building businesses through M&A
– Having done hundreds of deals, the leader of the logistics company explains what he’s learned matters most when making acquisitions.
Podcast

Why bad strategy is a ‘social contagion’
– Author and academic Richard Rumelt explains how to develop strategies that aim to solve problems rather than simply state ambitions.
Podcast

Four front-foot strategies to help create value in the net-zero transition
– Companies can identify green growth opportunities and move boldly to take advantage of them.
Podcast

Does your idea have the ‘voltage’ to scale?
– Economist John List discusses the science of determining whether a product or service can become a blockbuster.
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Charles Lowrey on putting purpose at the heart of Prudential Financial’s transformation
– The chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial talks about what it takes to keep a transformation on track.
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Voices of CEO excellence: Morgan Stanley’s James Gorman
– The chair and CEO of the financial services giant explains how he reshaped the firm in the wake of the financial crisis.
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MassMutual’s Roger Crandall on disrupting your own industry
– The long-time CEO of the US insurer reflects on the changes in the industry, the risk environment, and the CEO role.
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This collection of articles and videos explores how to enhance an organization’s performance and resilience through the... application of cash management best practices, mindsets, and capabilities.
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How do the best CEOs think and act? What wisdom can they share? Explore a special collection of CEO perspectives that touches... on everything from corporate strategy to personal working norms.
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Resilience is the ability of a business to withstand, adapt, and thrive in the face of shocks that are internal and external,... as well as known and unanticipated.

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Article

Communicating headwinds and tailwinds
– Investor relations should always address business-critical headwinds and tailwinds. But which do companies refer to more—and... how does that choice affect market performance?
Report

Toward a sustainable, inclusive, growing future: The role of business
– To make the world as sustainable and inclusive as we hope, a certain kind of economic growth will be necessary—and companies will... play a vital role in generating it.
Blog Post

Prime Numbers
In this blog series, we provide a refresher on how to interpret the metrics underlying
companies’ performance, resource-allocation... decisions, and growth strategies.
Survey

The coronavirus effect on global economic sentiment
– In the latest survey, inflation and geopolitical conflicts remain the top perceived economic risks, while concerns about energy... volatility predominate in Europe.
Report - McKinsey Global Institute

The rise and rise of the global balance sheet: How productively are we using our wealth?
– Net worth has tripled since 2000, but the increase mainly reflects valuation gains in real assets, especially real estate, rather... than investment in productive assets that drive our economies.
Podcast

Boards, talent, and culture
– Boards need to ensure that management walks the talk on culture and values.
Report - McKinsey Global Institute

Will productivity and growth return after the COVID-19 crisis?
– Bold innovation by some firms under pressure of the pandemic could deliver a productivity dividend, but that depends on corporate... action broadening and robust demand.
Article

The great acceleration
– The COVID-19 crisis has intensified existing trends, widening the gap between those at the top and bottom of the power curve... of economic profit. Will your strategy keep you ahead of the accelerated pace of change?
Article

Coronavirus: 15 emerging themes for boards and executive teams
– Board directors and executives can pool their wisdom to help companies grapple with the challenge of a lifetime.
Interactive

What matters most? Six priorities for CEOs in turbulent times
– With economic troubles mounting, it’s a time to tighten belts and put on hard hats. But don’t forget the jet pack,... to accelerate into the next phase of growth.
Report

Global Insurance Report 2023: Reimagining life insurance
– The global life insurance industry is facing an inflection point. A fundamental reimagination will usher in significant change.
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