The CEO Shortlist

Every two weeks, get the insights that C-suite leaders use to make bold moves—curated by McKinsey's editors. From breakthrough ideas about technology, leadership, and other emerging trends, it’s your guide for navigating what’s next.
An image linking to the web page “The seven operating truths of AI-native companies” on McKinsey.com.
AI operating truths, global foresight
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In a 20-person agtech venture, AI now handles more than half the tasks across nearly every business function, enabling humans...
An image linking to the web page “Brilliant Moves: Coffee with United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby” on McKinsey.com.
Leaders on leadership
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Every year, McKinsey interviews more than 100 CEOs, leaders, and founders to understand the latest in leadership. In this issue,...
A moat of protective data runs diagonally across the digital surface.
Meeting the AI moment
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AI is everywhere—in the C-suite, the boardroom, the shop floor, the kitchen table. As the technology redefines the way business...
Close Up Of A Quantum Computer In Operation With Flowing Codes
The assembly line, reinvented
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In the early 1900s, Henry Ford did not invent a better car—he changed the economics of building them. A similar shift is now...
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Measure twice, cut once
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In this issue, we offer new methods to measure two amorphous but critical quantities: geopolitical value at stake and AI impact...
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What changes—and what doesn’t—in the age of AI?
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Software development is happening differently these days. Across industries, roles are being redistributed: AI agents work the...
The race takes off in the next big arenas of competition
Growth, compute, and competition
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In a crucial set of industries, leading companies are pulling ahead, capturing a disproportionate share of growth, investment,...
A cutout silhouette of the United States filled with a collage of photographs representing American technological innovations spanning 250 years. Inside the map are images of inventions and advancements such as vintage cars and televisions, farm equipment, computer chips, servers, DNA strands, medical scanners, and digital technology, symbolizing America’s technological progress and competitive edge.
America’s edge, Asia’s new models
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America has 4 percent of the world’s population but generates 26 percent of global GDP and is home to 59 of the top 100 firms....
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Organization and growth today
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Many companies have ambitious AI agendas. The harder work—far...
A silver SUV makes navigates a winding dirt road as it snakes through a wide mountain valley, cutting sharp switchbacks across dry, golden-brown slopes. Steep ridges rise on both sides, with sparse vegetation and distant peaks fading into a hazy, expansive backdrop.
Deal me in
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Global M&A had a rocky start in 2025, amid abrupt shifts in trade policies. As tensions eased, dealmaking took off, with...
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The human edge—and Europe’s competitiveness
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As AI accelerates, companies are entering what we call the brain economy—one where cognitive, social, and emotional capabilities...