This is a profile image of Sven Smit

Sven Smit

McKinsey Global Institute Chair and Senior PartnerAmsterdam

Leads research on economic and business trends and works with companies to develop business strategies and transformations

Sven is a senior partner at McKinsey and the chair of the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), our business-and-economics research division, and also chairs our insights and ecosystems work. He is a current member of the firm’s global leadership team, the Shareholders’ Council, which oversees the firm's knowledge development.

Sven works with leading companies to develop strategies for growth and serves all industries, analyzing the success factors required for business growth, examining the way megatrends influence it, and defining the lessons of diversified growth. He builds on the ideas in Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick: People, Probabilities, and Big Moves to Beat the Odds (John Wiley & Sons, February 2018), and The Granularity of Growth: How to Identify the Sources of Growth and Drive Enduring Company Performance (John Wiley & Sons, March 2008), two books he coauthored.

As chair of MGI, he leads research and authors MGI reports on global economic trends and topics such as productivity and growth, urbanization, innovation and technology, labor markets, the future of work, emerging markets, and Europe's economic outlook.

He helps develop the firm’s point of view on core issues such as economic volatility, inflation, and uncertainty, and defines ways to help clients navigate problems. Previous roles Sven has held within McKinsey include leading the firm’s work in Western Europe and the global Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice.

Sven holds a degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA. Prior to joining the firm, Sven worked in measurement and control as an engineer and researcher. He contributes to society through NL2025, an initiative committed to a better future for the Netherlands.

Interviews

The state of burnout for women in the workplace,” McKinsey & Company, January 2022

COVID changed work but will that change last forever?,” Podcast: Bloomberg, April 2021

Published work

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, January 2024,” McKinsey & Company, January 2024

Accelerating Europe: Competitiveness for a new era,” McKinsey Global Institute, January 2024

2024 and beyond: Will it be economic stagnation or the advent of productivity-driven abundance?,” McKinsey & Company, January 2024

Economic conditions outlook during turbulent times, December 2023,” McKinsey & Company, December 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, November 2023,” McKinsey & Company, December 2023

An affordable, reliable, competitive path to net zero, McKinsey & Company, November 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, October 2023,” McKinsey & Company, November 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, September 2023,” McKinsey & Company, October 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, August 2023,” McKinsey & Company, September 2023

From poverty to empowerment: Raising the bar for sustainable and inclusive growth,” McKinsey Global Institute, August 2023

War in Ukraine: Twelve disruptions changing the world, one year on,” McKinsey & Company, July 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, June 2023,” McKinsey & Company, July 2023

Empty spaces and hybrid places: The pandemic’s lasting impact on real estate,” McKinsey Global Institute, July 2023

Economic conditions outlook during turbulent times, June 2023,” McKinsey & Company, July 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, May 2023,” McKinsey & Company, June 2023

A peek at the future health and wealth of our global economy,” McKinsey Global Institute, June 2023

The future of wealth and growth hangs in the balance, McKinsey Global Institute, May 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, April 2023,” McKinsey & Company, May 2023

Economic conditions outlook during turbulent times, March 2023,” McKinsey & Company, April 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, February 2023,” McKinsey & Company, March 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, January 2023,” McKinsey & Company, February 2023

"Performance through people: Transforming human capital into competitive advantage," McKinsey Global Institute, February 2023

"The China imperative for multinational companies," McKinsey Global Institute, January 2023

2023, a testing year: Will the macro-scenario range widen or narrow?,” McKinsey & Company, January 2023

The complication of concentration in global trade,” McKinsey Global Institute, January 2023

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, December 2022,” McKinsey & Company, January 2023

Global balance sheet 2022: Enter volatility,” McKinsey Global Institute, December 2022

Economic conditions outlook during turbulent times, December 2022,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022

Survey results: Expectations for company performance, by industry,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, November 2022,” McKinsey & Company, December 2022

Pixels of Progress: A granular look at human development around the world,” McKinsey Global Institute, December 2022

Global flows: The ties that bind in an interconnected world,” McKinsey Global Institute, November 2022

Building a world-class Dutch start-up ecosystem, McKinsey & Company, November 2022

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, October 2022,” McKinsey & Company, November 2022

On the cusp of a new era?,” McKinsey Global Institute, October 2022

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, September 2022,” McKinsey & Company, October 2022

"Securing Europe’s competitiveness: Addressing its technology gap," McKinsey Global Institute, September 2022

The coronavirus effect on global economic sentiment,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

Survey results: Expectations for company performance, by industry,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

Economic conditions outlook, September 2022,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, August 2022,” McKinsey & Company, September 2022

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, June 2022,” McKinsey & Company, July 2022

Economic conditions outlook, June 2022,” McKinsey & Company, June 2022

"Human capital at work: The value of experience," McKinsey & Company, June 2022 

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, May 2022,” McKinsey Global Institute, June 2022

War in Ukraine: Twelve disruptions changing the world,” McKinsey & Company, May 2022

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, April 2022,” McKinsey Global Institute, May 2022

Securing Europe’s future beyond energy: Addressing its corporate and technology gap,” McKinsey Global Institute, May 2022

Navigating inflation: A new playbook for CEOs,” McKinsey Quarterly, April 2022

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, March 2022,” McKinsey & Company, April 2022

The path to sustainable and inclusive growth,” McKinsey & Company, April 2022

The rising toll of the war in Ukraine,” McKinsey & Company, March 2022

Economic conditions outlook, March 2022,” McKinsey & Company, March 2022

War in Ukraine: Lives and livelihoods, lost and disrupted,” McKinsey & Company, March 2022

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, February 2022,” McKinsey & Company, March 2022

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, January 2022,” McKinsey & Company, February 2022

The net-zero transition: What it would cost, what it could bring,” McKinsey & Company, January 2022 

The CEO agenda in 2022: Harnessing the potential of growth jolts,” McKinsey & Company, January 2022

The rise and rise of the global balance sheet: How productively are we using our wealth?,” McKinsey Global Institute, November 2021

Solving the net-zero equation: Nine requirements for a more orderly transition,” McKinsey & Company, October 2021

Our future lives and livelihoods: Sustainable and inclusive and growing,” McKinsey Quarterly, October 2021

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, September 2021,” McKinsey & Company, October 2021

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, June 2021,” McKinsey & Company, July 2021

Why your COVID-19 exit needs ‘strategy inserts,’” McKinsey & Company, June 2021

Getting tangible about intangibles: The future of growth and productivity,” McKinsey Global Institute, June 2021

Looking beyond the pandemic: Could the world economy gain more than it lost to COVID-19?,” McKinsey & Company, June 2021

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, May 2021,” McKinsey & Company, June 2021

A new look at how corporations impact the economy and households,” McKinsey Global Institute, June 2021

How keeping health a priority is a prescription for European prosperity,” McKinsey Global Institute, May 2021

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, April 2021,” McKinsey & Company, May 2021

Pathways for productivity and growth after the COVID-19 crisis,” VOX EU, May 2021

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, March 2021,” McKinsey & Company, April 2021

Will productivity and growth return after the COVID-19 crisis?,” McKinsey Global Institute, March 2021

The consumer demand recovery and lasting effects of COVID-19,” McKinsey Global Institute, March 2021

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, February 2021,” McKinsey & Company, March 2021

The future of work after COVID-19,” McKinsey Global Institute, February 2021

Navigating through change: An interview with NXP Semiconductors’ Kurt Sievers,” McKinsey & Company, February 2021

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, December 2020,” McKinsey & Company, January 2021

Strategic conversation with Sven Smit on a new social contract,” Video - Friends of Europe, January 2021

COVID-19 has revived the social contract in advanced economies - for now. What will stick once the crisis abates?,” McKinsey Global Institute, December 2020

What's next for remote work: An analysis of 2,000 tasks, 800 jobs, and nine countries,” McKinsey Global Institute, November 2020

As you return from the summer break, can you lead toward a COVID-Exit?,” McKinsey & Company, September 2020

India’s turning point: An economic agenda to spur growth and jobs,” McKinsey Global Institute, August 2020

Risk, resilience, and rebalancing in global value chains,” McKinsey Global Institute, August 2020

Banking system resilience in the time of COVID-19,” McKinsey & Company, August 2020

Reinventing dynamism: An in-depth look at the future of work in Europe beyond the pandemic,” OECD Forum, July 2020

Ten innovations that can improve global health,” McKinsey & Company, July 2020

The great acceleration,” McKinsey & Company, July 2020

Prioritizing health: A prescription for prosperity,” McKinsey Global Institute, July 2020

Crushing coronavirus uncertainty: The big ‘unlock’ for our economies,” McKinsey & Company, May 2020

In the tunnel: Executive expectations about the shape of the coronavirus crisis,” McKinsey & Company, April 2020

Europe needs to prepare now to get back to work—safely,” McKinsey & Company, April 2020

An instant economic crisis: How deep and how long?,” McKinsey & Company, April 2020

Getting ahead of the next stage of the coronavirus crisis,” McKinsey & Company, April 2020

Critical care capacity: The number to watch during the battle of COVID-19,” McKinsey & Company, March 2020

Safeguarding our lives and our livelihoods: The imperative of our time,” McKinsey & Company, March 2020

Advanced economies' missing link,” Project Syndicate, February 2020

The new social contract in the 21st century,” McKinsey Global Institute, February 2020

From promise to delivery: Overcoming the strategy problem in the public sector,” McKinsey & Company, July 2019

Eurozone unemployment falls to a ten-year low,” McKinsey & Company, February 2019

Past experience

Philips Research Laboratories
Engineer, researcher

Education

INSEAD
MBA

Delft University of Technology
MA, mechanical engineering