OUR BEST IDEAS FOR THE C-SUITE

Welcome to the latest edition of the CEO Shortlist, a biweekly newsletter of our best ideas for the C-suite. This week, we focus on two leadership imperatives: building world-class teams and reconfiguring work in the era of gen AI. You can reach us at Alex_Panas@McKinsey.com and Axel_Karlsson@McKinsey.com. Thank you, as ever.

—Alex and Axel

Underdogs can win. It’s not just the scoreboard that matters—it’s the system. Our new research on world-class teams looks at how leaders in sports have turned chronic losers into champions, and how those same principles can apply in business. Vision, talent, discipline, creativity: The building blocks are surprisingly transferable. Just as coaches remake rosters and reset cultures, CEOs can transform underperforming units into standouts.

Gen AI isn’t magic. The headlines may be breathless, but most organizations haven’t yet seen fundamental change from gen AI. Why not? To get beyond the pilots and the hype—and create real value—leaders will need to rewire workflows, reskill people, and create trust in AI-driven decisions. The real payoff will come not from adopting the tool but from reshaping how work gets done around it.

We hope you find these insights helpful. See you in a couple weeks with more McKinsey ideas for the CEO and others in the C-suite.

Share these insights

Did you enjoy this newsletter? Forward it to colleagues and friends so they can subscribe too. Was this issue forwarded to you? Sign up for it and sample our 40+ other free email subscriptions here.