In the upcoming book, CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best CEOs from the Rest, three McKinsey senior partners offer leadership lessons from 67 CEOs of some of the world’s most successful companies. In this second episode, we discuss culture, managing stakeholders, and how the pandemic has impacted the CEO role. Carolyn Dewar and Scott Keller, who co-lead McKinsey’s global CEO Excellence practice, are joined by Vik Malhotra, former chair of our firm’s Americas region. 

In the upcoming book, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/ceo-excellence">CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best CEOs from the Rest,</a> three McKinsey senior partners offer leadership lessons from 67 CEOs of some of the world&rsquo;s most successful companies. In this second episode, we discuss culture, managing stakeholders, and how the pandemic has impacted the CEO role. Carolyn Dewar and Scott Keller, who co-lead McKinsey&rsquo;s global CEO Excellence practice, are joined by Vik Malhotra, former chair of our firm&rsquo;s Americas region.
<h2>&nbsp;</h2>

We talk with McKinsey partners and corporate executives on the challenges they face creating lasting strategies in a fast-changing world. We also examine the different ways these executives approach these challenges and the new and innovative ways they think of creating a vision for their enterprises.

What does it take to survive in a world of constant change? More than ever, enterprises need to create strategies that can meet current needs but also adapt to future demand. A regular series of interviews with McKinsey partners and corporate executives.

Inside the Strategy Room

The world is moving faster, and as upheaval becomes the norm, vast business opportunities will be within the grasp of the extraordinary few.  But it takes bold people and courageous approaches to seize those opportunities and create value.

In each episode of our weekly podcast, we interview the world’s highest-performing CEOs, CFOs, innovators, and McKinsey experts and discuss how they build the courage, clarity, conviction, and cohesion that allow their businesses to win by moving faster than the world around them. 

The world is moving faster, and as upheaval becomes the norm, vast business opportunities will be within the grasp of the extraordinary few. &nbsp;But it takes bold people and courageous approaches to seize those opportunities and create value.
In each episode of our weekly podcast, we interview the world&rsquo;s highest-performing CEOs, CFOs, innovators, and McKinsey experts and discuss how they build the courage, clarity, conviction, and cohesion that allow their businesses to win by moving faster than the world around them.&nbsp;

The authors of the new book CEO Excellence, who interviewed dozens of the top-performing chief executives, share their most memorable encounters and stories

111. Leadership lessons from the world’s best CEOs. Ep 2

Private equity is navigating one of its most challenging value creation environments in years, and winning firms are using M&A integration as a competitive weapon. Brian Dinneen and Matthew Maloney join us to discuss three high-impact integration strategies that leading sponsors are using to overcome these headwinds, based on their recent article.

Related insights

How private equity is using M&A integrations to overcome headwinds

Unlocking full potential: Five practices reshaping PE value creation

2026 Global Private Markets Report: Private equity−clearer view, tougher terrain

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

Transforming value creation in private equity portfolio companies (podcast)

Private Capital at McKinsey

Private equity is navigating one of its most challenging value creation environments in years, and winning firms are using M&amp;A integration as a competitive weapon. <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fbriandinneen%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClare_Kitada-SYDN%40external.mckinsey.com%7C7506471714a14b05d31808df091095a3%7Ccc8936bc93824fff87cb6f55999549e7%7C0%7C0%7C639239639019051631%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=HYiCoifRMPX8h0et4FegMlCm50f4qVKps51HeRwChAI%3D&amp;reserved=0">Brian Dinneen</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/matthew-maloney?cid=cl4c-cml&amp;sid=%7b%7blead.SFDC%20Id:default=CL4C%7d%7d">Matthew Maloney</a>&nbsp;join us to discuss three high-impact integration strategies that leading sponsors are using to overcome these headwinds, based on their recent <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-private-equity-is-using-m-and-a-integrations-to-overcome-headwinds?cid=cl4c-cml&amp;sid=%7b%7blead.SFDC%20Id:default=CL4C%7d%7d">article</a>.
Related insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-private-equity-is-using-m-and-a-integrations-to-overcome-headwinds">How private equity is using M&amp;A integrations to overcome headwinds</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/our-insights/unlocking-full-potential-five-practices-reshaping-pe-value-creation">Unlocking full potential: Five practices reshaping PE value creation</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights/global-private-markets-report?cid=cl4c-cml&amp;sid=%7b%7blead.SFDC%20Id:default=CL4C%7d%7d">2026 Global Private Markets Report</a><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights/global-private-markets-report/private-equity">: </a><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights/global-private-markets-report/private-equity">Private equity&minus;clearer view, tougher terrain</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights/beating-the-odds-how-private-equity-firms-can-improve-exit-prospects">Beating the odds: How private equity firms can improve exit prospects</a>
<a href="https://omny.fm/shows/inside-the-strategy-room/306-transforming-value-creation-in-private-equity-portfolio-companies">Transforming value creation in private equity portfolio companies</a> (podcast) <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights">Private Capital at McKinsey</a>

321. M&A integration: PE’s new value creation playbook

The risk function’s fundamental purpose has not changed in light of AI. What has changed is the nature and pace of risks amplified by AI, as well as the tools available to manage them. Anke Raufuss, Björn Nilsson, and Laura Webanck join us to discuss the role of the digital twin and how it is changing the future of risk management.

 Related Insights

Evolving model risk management in the age of AI

How companies can strengthen their geopolitical risk readiness

Global risk productivity survey: Four themes shaping risk management

The future of risk: How global trends are reshaping risk management

From risk to resilience: New approaches to navigating disruption in Asia

Risk and Resilience on McKinsey.com

McKinsey Risk & Resilience on LinkedIn



 

The risk function&rsquo;s fundamental purpose has not changed in light of AI. What has changed is the nature and pace of risks amplified by AI, as well as the tools available to manage them. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/anke-raufuss">Anke Raufuss</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bj%C3%B6rn-nilsson-71a6065/" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="&laquo;r5&raquo;">Bj&ouml;rn Nilsson</a>, and <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Flaura-webanck-6b70ba6%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClare_Kitada-SYDN%40external.mckinsey.com%7C7d13f1efa4a340e807ec08defecf8c25%7Ccc8936bc93824fff87cb6f55999549e7%7C0%7C0%7C639228364551836264%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=pLpiW9OkH5pFm1tC8VrnXh1pTdrRCOiBcOkq59ypuD4%3D&amp;reserved=0">Laura Webanck</a>&nbsp;join us to discuss the role of the digital twin and how it is changing the future of risk management.
&nbsp;Related Insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/evolving-model-risk-management-in-the-age-of-ai">Evolving model risk management in the age of AI</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/how-companies-can-strengthen-their-geopolitical-risk-readiness">How companies can strengthen their geopolitical risk readiness</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/global-risk-productivity-survey-four-themes-shaping-risk-management">Global risk productivity survey: Four themes shaping risk management</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/the-future-of-risk-how-global-trends-are-reshaping-risk-management">The future of risk: How global trends are reshaping risk management</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/from-risk-to-resilience-new-approaches-to-navigating-disruption-in-asia">From risk to resilience: New approaches to navigating disruption in Asia</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/how-we-help-clients">Risk and Resilience on McKinsey.com</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-risk-resilience/">McKinsey Risk &amp; Resilience on LinkedIn</a> 
&nbsp;

320. The digital twin:  Reimagining non-financial risk management 

As strategy rises to the top of executive agendas, many organizations are struggling to translate bold strategic choices into sustained performance. In this episode, the global coleaders of our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice, Sébastien Lacroix and Andy West, along with Whitney Zimmerman, a distinguished expert in strategy, discuss why mobilization has become the critical differentiator between strategy success and failure, and how leaders can build the capabilities needed to turn strategy into action in an era of intensified competition, ever-accelerating change, and uncertainty.

Related insights

Strategy and Value: The Four Foundations That Drive Long-Term Performance (our new book, due out in November)

How to maximize competitive advantage

How to ensure your company acts on your strategy 

How strategy champions win

Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick

Fundamentals of strategy and value creation

Have you tested your strategy lately?

As strategy rises to the top of executive agendas, many organizations are struggling to translate bold strategic choices into sustained performance. In this episode, the global coleaders of our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/sebastien-lacroix?cid=cl4c-cml&amp;sid=%7b%7blead.SFDC%20Id:default=CL4C%7d%7d">S&eacute;bastien Lacroix</a> and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/andy-west?cid=cl4c-cml&amp;sid=%7b%7blead.SFDC%20Id:default=CL4C%7d%7d">Andy West</a>, along with <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/whitney-zimmerman?cid=cl4c-cml&amp;sid=%7b%7blead.SFDC%20Id:default=CL4C%7d%7d">Whitney Zimmerman</a>, a distinguished expert in strategy, discuss why mobilization has become the critical differentiator between strategy success and failure, and how leaders can build the capabilities needed to turn strategy into action in an era of intensified competition, ever-accelerating change, and uncertainty.
Related insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/strategy-and-value">Strategy and Value: The Four Foundations That Drive Long-Term Performance </a>(our new book, due out in November)
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmeGg9ruEhk">How to maximize competitive advantage</a>
<a href="https://hbr.org/2026/07/how-to-ensure-your-company-acts-on-your-new-strategy">How to ensure your company acts on your strategy </a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-strategy-champions-win">How strategy champions win</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/strategy-beyond-the-hockey-stick">Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/mckinsey-on-finance/mckinsey-on-finance-number-80/fundamentals-of-strategy-and-value-creation">Fundamentals of strategy and value creation</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/have-you-tested-your-strategy-lately">Have you tested your strategy lately?</a>

111. Leadership lessons from the world’s best CEOs. Ep 2

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