Ability to Execute

Enable enterprise-wide transformations through capability building

Capability gaps are one of the greatest barriers to successful transformation. Ability to Execute is a suite of programs designed to equip leaders and teams with the skills, mindsets, and behaviors required to drive and sustain performance at scale. Grounded in behavioral science and fully integrated with Wave, our AI-enabled transformation platform, Ability to Execute embeds practical execution tools and real-time coaching directly into the flow of work, accelerating business impact and strengthening long-term performance. Ability to Execute provides organization-wide solutions focused on what matters most to unlock teams’ full potential, while empowering employees to improve the way they work.

What we do

Execution essentials

Rapidly upskill employees with the tools, capabilities, and common language that are proven to support better execution in any large-scale change efforts.

Performance lift

Kickstart the transformation journey by enabling leaders to develop the mindsets and skills to deliver their performance aspirations.

AI-enabled learning

Guide employees through just-in-time, personalized training on how to identify growth opportunities, manage progress, escalate risks, and track business impact.

Functional fundamentals

Build critical functional capabilities that enable leaders to translate ambitious initiatives into sustained value at scale across an organization, including finance, procurement, and pricing.

Our Approach

Ability to Execute uses a proven, case-based approach to drive enterprise-wide transformation, using the latest science around behavior change and capability building.

Flexible delivery: In-person and virtual programming means convenience for distributed teams, and digital content enables rapid scaling of capabilities across the entire organization.

Distinctive content: Comprehensive learning journeys come to life through practical, engaging digital modules and simulations on real business challenges.

Reinforcement: Suite of reinforcement mechanisms embed new behaviors and skills to ensure that mindsets shift and changes stick.

Sample program

Ability to Execute: Essentials

McKinsey's capability-building program helps employees learn the practical skills and leadership habits needed to execute and sustain business transformation at scale.

Target audience

The entire organization—from senior leaders to frontline teams—so everyone is aligned on how to execute and deliver impact.

Learning objectives

Build and apply core execution and leadership skills, including setting priorities, turning ideas into action, managing risks, solving problems, and leading teams effectively to drive results.

Program delivery

A2E Essentials combines hands-on workshops with short, AI-powered digital modules delivered through Wave. The program also includes team discussions and peer learning to help employees apply new skills in their day-to-day work and build lasting habits.

Examples of our work

Embedding rigorous execution

A global advanced industries company needed a scalable way to fundamentally improve the way it functioned. The organization rolled out Ability to Execute Essentials to 40,000+ employees across 150 countries, increasing the effectiveness of meetings, communications, reporting and risk planning to sustain transformational change.

Accelerating performance

Facing pressure from new market entrants and industry disruption, a top insurance provider in the Caribbean partnered with Ability to Execute to empower hundreds of its leaders with the skills to rapidly execute their transformation plan, achieving a step change in the pace of the transformation.

Strengthening organizational health

A multinational chemical company with bottom-quartile organizational health deployed Ability to Execute to accelerate and sustain its transformation, reaching employees across 30+ countries. Within 24 months, health scores improved to the second quartile.