Courageous conversations, the future of robotics, and more

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Brought to you by Alex Panas, global leader of industries, & Becca Coggins, 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 Becca_Coggins@McKinsey.com.

—Alex and Becca

Take a moment to catch up on this week’s highlights on courageous conversations, the future of robotics, what’s next for AI, and more.

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Courageous conversations are the backbone of effective leadership—but many leaders avoid them. Kurt Strovink, Meagan Hill, Mike Carson, and Eric Sherman explain how leading with both head and heart can help executives navigate tension while strengthening relationships and performance.

Lead courageously

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Geopolitics and rising uncertainty are reshaping global trade. Tiago Devesa, Jeongmin Seong, Olivia White, Nick Leung, Camillo Lamanna, and Joaquín Rebled explore how leaders can manage both long-term structural shifts and short-term shocks.

Understand trade shifts

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Mikell Taylor, head of robotics strategy at General Motors, speaks to McKinsey’s Ani Kelkar about why the future of robotics lies in thoughtful system design—and how it enables people to do their best work alongside increasingly capable, collaborative machines.

Look to the future

Token economics, physical AI, and beyond: McKinsey’s Chris Smith previews what to expect at NVIDIA GTC

NVIDIA GTC brings together leaders across industries to discuss AI—but this year’s event signaled a broader shift in the conversation. McKinsey’s Chris Smith explains where the industry is heading next and shares insights from ongoing discussions with NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang through McKinsey’s ecosystem of tech alliances.

See what’s next for AI

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Webinar: At the threshold of a new era in commodity trading

The commodity trading landscape is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. Join McKinsey’s Fransje van der Marel, Roland Rechtsteiner, and Ernst Frankl for an exclusive webinar featuring a deep dive into our latest report.

Register now

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Beating the odds: How private equity firms can improve exit prospects

Thorough and early preparations for asset sales are vital for private equity firms to generate timely returns in a challenging market.

Explore 7 practices for success

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COO Excellence: The next generation of leadership

No longer just operators, today’s COOs sit at the intersection of strategy, execution, and partnership with the CEO.

Tune in

—Edited by Joyce Yoo, editor, New York

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Courageous conversations are the backbone of effective leadership—but many leaders avoid them. Kurt Strovink, Meagan Hill, Mike Carson, and Eric Sherman explain how leading with both head and heart can help executives navigate tension while strengthening relationships and performance.﻿﻿﻿

Geopolitics and rising uncertainty are reshaping global trade. Tiago Devesa, Jeongmin Seong, Olivia White, Nick Leung, Camillo Lamanna, and Joaquín Rebled explore how leaders can manage both long-term structural shifts and short-term shocks.﻿

﻿Mikell Taylor, head of robotics strategy at General Motors, speaks to McKinsey’s Ani Kelkar about why the future of robotics lies in thoughtful system design—and how it enables people to do their best work alongside increasingly capable, collaborative machines.﻿

﻿Webinar: At the threshold of a new era in commodity trading