The finance function and CFO's rope are evolving rapidly as digitization accelerates the pace of change amidst continuing economic and geopolitical volatility. Two expert colleagues join us to discuss how CFOs can help build world-class finance functions capable of withstanding external shocks and staying ahead of the competition. 

Bjørnar Jensen is a senior partner in our Zurich office, and Liz Fasciana, is a senior partner in our London office. Both work extensively with CFOs around the world. 

They spoke with Sean at McKinsey’s CFO Forum in London in June.

Related insights:  

CFOs and the evolving finance function

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The finance function and CFO's rope are evolving rapidly as digitization accelerates the pace of change amidst continuing economic and geopolitical volatility. Two expert colleagues join us to discuss how CFOs can help build world-class finance functions capable of withstanding external shocks and staying ahead of the competition. 
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bj%C3%B8rnar-jensen-8a4995/">Bjørnar Jensen</a> is a senior partner in our Zurich office, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-fasciana/?originalSubdomain=uk">Liz Fasciana,</a> is a senior partner in our London office. Both work extensively with CFOs around the world. They spoke with Sean at McKinsey’s CFO Forum in London in June.
Related insights:  
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/mckinsey-on-finance/mckinsey-on-finance-number-80/cfos-and-the-evolving-finance-function">CFOs and the evolving finance function</a>
Join our <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&amp;-corporate-finance/?viewAsMember=true">LinkedIn community</a> of more than 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/McKStrategy">@McKStrategy</a>. 
Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/itsr">episode transcripts on McKinsey.com</a>

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.

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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;

Building a world-class digital finance function

170. Building a world-class digital finance function

From its origins as an internal three-ring binder to its status as a global reference text, Valuation has shaped how business leaders think about value creation for more than 30 years.

In this episode, co-author Tim Koller joins the co-leaders of our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice, Andy West and Dago Diedrich, to reflect on the evolution of Valuation, the principles that have remained timeless, and the lessons learned across market cycles, bubbles, and changing executive expectations. Tim also shares his perspective on long-term orientation, disciplined leadership, and the legacy he hopes the book leaves with the business community.

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Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies

From its origins as an internal three-ring binder to its status as a global reference text, Valuation has shaped how business leaders think about value creation for more than 30 years.
In this episode, co-author <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/tim-koller">Tim Koller </a>joins the co-leaders of our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/andy-west">Andy West </a>and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/dago-diedrich">Dago Diedrich,</a> to reflect on the evolution of Valuation, the principles that have remained timeless, and the lessons learned across market cycles, bubbles, and changing executive expectations. Tim also shares his perspective on long-term orientation, disciplined leadership, and the legacy he hopes the book leaves with the business community.
Related Insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/corporate-finance/valuation-measuring-and-managing-the-value-of-companies">Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies</a>

290. Tim Koller reflects on three decades of Valuation at McKinsey 

Levi Strauss & Co. Chief Finance and Growth Officer, Harmit Singh, joins us to share lessons from his 13-year journey transforming the iconic clothing company. Singh explains how Levi’s returned to growth, strengthened profitability, and shifted toward a direct-to-consumer model, while staying true to its purpose-driven heritage. He introduces the “Magic of the And”–his approach to driving both top- and bottom-line performance– and discusses building a performance culture, navigating volatility and tariffs with cross-functional teams, developing finance talent, and approaching AI in finance with practical use cases and discipline. Joining Harmit for this discussion is Steve Begley, a senior partner based in our New York office.

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The State of Fashion 2026: When the rules change

How finance teams are putting AI to work today

How Nestlé’s CFO sharpens focus across a global portfolio

Levi Strauss &amp; Co. Chief Finance and Growth Officer, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/singhharmit/">Harmit Singh</a>, joins us to share lessons from his 13-year journey transforming the iconic clothing company. Singh explains how Levi&rsquo;s returned to growth, strengthened profitability, and shifted toward a direct-to-consumer model, while staying true to its purpose-driven heritage. He introduces the &ldquo;Magic of the And&rdquo;&ndash;his approach to driving both top- and bottom-line performance&ndash; and discusses building a performance culture, navigating volatility and tariffs with cross-functional teams, developing finance talent, and approaching AI in finance with practical use cases and discipline.&nbsp;Joining Harmit for this discussion is <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-w-begley-2a20361a/">Steve Begley</a>, a senior partner based in our New York office.
Related Insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/state-of-fashion">The State of Fashion 2026: When the rules change</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-finance-teams-are-putting-ai-to-work-today">How finance teams are putting AI to work today</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-nestles-cfo-sharpens-focus-across-a-global-portfolio">How Nestl&eacute;&rsquo;s CFO sharpens focus across a global portfolio</a>

289. The CFO as growth leader: Levi’s Harmit Singh on transformation and the “Magic of the And.”

As organizations increasingly employ agentic AI, they face new risks that could disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, or erode customer trust. Rich Isenberg and Charlie Lewis join us to discuss these emerging risks and how leaders can proactively ensure secure and compliant adoption.

Rich Isenberg is a partner in our Atlanta office and a leader within our Risk and Resilience and Cybersecurity Practices. Charlie Lewis is a partner in our Connecticut office and leads our cybersecurity and tech resilience work across North America and Europe. Together, they offer a frontline perspective on how organizations are implementing agentic AI, the emerging forms of cyber and operational risk, and the critical steps leaders must take to build robust governance and resilience.

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Deploying agentic AI with safety and security: A playbook for technology leaders

The change agent: Goals, decisions, and implications for CEOs in the agentic age

Seizing the agentic AI advantage

McKinsey Risk & Resilience on LinkedIn

McKinsey Risk & Resilience: Our latest insights

As organizations increasingly employ agentic AI, they face new risks that could disrupt operations, compromise sensitive data, or erode customer trust. Rich Isenberg and Charlie Lewis join us to discuss these emerging risks and how leaders can proactively ensure secure and compliant adoption.
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/rich-isenberg">Rich Isenberg </a>is a partner in our Atlanta office and a leader within our Risk and Resilience and Cybersecurity Practices.<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/charlie-lewis"> Charlie Lewis</a> is a partner in our Connecticut office and leads our cybersecurity and tech resilience work across North America and Europe. Together, they offer a frontline perspective on how organizations are implementing agentic AI, the emerging forms of cyber and operational risk, and the critical steps leaders must take to build robust governance and resilience.
Related Insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/deploying-agentic-ai-with-safety-and-security-a-playbook-for-technology-leaders">Deploying agentic AI with safety and security: A playbook for technology leaders</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/the-change-agent-goals-decisions-and-implications-for-ceos-in-the-agentic-age">The change agent: Goals, decisions, and implications for CEOs in the agentic age</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/seizing-the-agentic-ai-advantage">Seizing the agentic AI advantage</a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-risk-resilience/">McKinsey Risk &amp; Resilience on LinkedIn</a> <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights">McKinsey Risk &amp; Resilience: Our latest insights</a>

170. Building a world-class digital finance function

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