OUR BEST IDEAS FOR THE C-SUITE

Hello, Shortlist readers! I’m Becca Coggins, McKinsey’s new global leader of functional practices and growth platforms. I’m a senior partner in the Chicago office; for the past 21 years, I’ve worked with CEOs and management teams across consumer and retail. I’m pleased to join Alex to bring you the latest edition of the CEO Shortlist, a biweekly newsletter of our best ideas for the C-suite. This week, we offer two new reports that are well suited to Black Friday’s travel and shopping themes: one on the future of airports and one on fashion. We appreciate the opportunity to connect and hope you find our perspectives novel and insightful. You can reach us at Alex_Panas@McKinsey.com and Becca_Coggins@McKinsey.com. Thank you, as ever.

—Alex and Becca

Seamless, automated, and personalized: Three words that no one ever uses about today’s airport experience, especially on US Thanksgiving weekend. But big changes are in the works. In the newest edition of The Next Normal, our series on the future of industries, we tapped some of the world’s leading experts to find out what airline travel could soon become: a world where bags are whisked from the curb to the gate, personalized departure boards point you toward your destination, and long lines are a thing of the past. Get ready for a new way of flying. 
 
The rules are changing. Today’s fashion executives are contending with a fundamentally new reality. US tariffs have redrawn trade maps. Consumers continue to rethink their spending, seeking greater value for money and devoting more of their budgets to well-being and longevity. Companies are deploying gen AI in customer service, marketing, and product discovery. This year’s State of Fashion report—the tenth anniversary edition—tracks trends and reveals insights on the coming shifts in jewelry, smart glasses, resale, upmarket elevation, and much more. 

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

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