Scaling brain health interventions, CO2 removal, the FDI shake-up, and more: The Weekend Read

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The Weekend Read

CURATED PICKS FOR YOUR DOWNTIME, FROM OUR EDITORS

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Brought to you by Alex Panas, global leader of industries, & Axel Karlsson, global leader of functional practices and growth platforms

Welcome to the latest edition of The Weekend Read. We hope you find our perspectives useful. Let us know what you think at Alex_Panas@McKinsey.com and Axel_Karlsson@McKinsey.com.

—Alex and Axel

As we approach the final weekend of September, be sure to check out the week’s big insights on scaling brain health interventions, CO₂ removal, the FDI shake-up, and more.

A mother smiles as she holds her young child up while the child grasps a monkey bar in an outdoor playground.

What can we do to prevent, treat, and help people recover from brain health conditions? A new interactive dashboard by McKinsey Health Institute’s Erica Coe, Kana Enomoto, and coauthors allows users to dive deeper into the health and economic impact of scaling brain health interventions.

Seize the opportunities

Illustration showing ocean carbon dioxide removal. Ships and tress collecting from water, trucks delivering to factory.

CO₂ removal, or CDR, remains an essential part of any transition to net zero. Mark Patel and coauthors discuss the role of ocean CDR (also referred to as marine CDR) in enhancing the ocean’s vital place in climate management.

Dive into what’s possible

Weekly spotlight on geopolitics

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has seeded and transformed many global industries including oil, copper, and semiconductors. What can FDI today tell us about global industry in the future? A new McKinsey Global Institute report by Olivia White, Nick Leung, Michael Birshan, and coauthors offers foresight for decision-makers navigating a high-stakes environment of intensifying global economic competition and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

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The future map of international business

An image of a cityscape composed of individual segments of building facades in various shades of blues and purples. The building segments are arranged like dominoes from back to front in a wave-like pattern. On top of the building segments sits a transparent sphere containing a smaller green globe encircled by two blue recycling arrows, symbolizing sustainability

Stakeholders from real estate owners to material manufacturers stand to gain from a more carbon-friendly construction industry. Here’s how the sector can reach its net-zero goals.

Get your Five Fifty

Abstract visual of futuristic transparent data containers, filled with glowing code

Companies are racing to launch agentic use cases and embed AI in every workflow. Mohit Khanna, Nimish Mittal, and coauthors explore how leaders can evolve their business and go-to-market models to thrive in this new AI+SaaS era.

Capture the opportunity

Ready to unwind?

Portrait of Tan Su Shan, CEO of Singapore-based DBS Bank

DBS CEO Tan Su Shan on building a gen AI–enabled bank with a heart

The new CEO says the bank is going all in on AI, but it is also committed to being an empathetic organization, in line with its development bank roots.

Dive into the conversation

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Riding the hyperscaler wave: The investment opportunity in cloud ecosystems

The underlying market for cloud infrastructure could reach $3.4 trillion by 2040. Capturing the compelling associated investment opportunity in cloud partner ecosystems requires a winning strategy.

Navigate the symbiotic relationship

The McKinsey Crossword: Lives Well Led | No. 251

17-Across: Online learning company founded by LeapFrog cofounder Mike Wood (1953–2025)

Know the answer? Test yourself with the latest McKinsey Crossword: Lives Well Led | No. 251

To be remembered

—Edited by Joyce Yoo, editor, New York

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