In this episode, we explore why and how business leaders, and CFOs in particular, should try to see their businesses as investors see them.  

We're joined by Chantal Lorbeer, a partner in our Munich office who advises global chemicals companies on their strategy, growth transformations, as well as their operating models and portfolio moves. Chantal co-leads our Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice in Germany was well as chemicals capital-markets perspective globally.

Also joining us is Justin Sanders, a partner in our New York office who co-leads our shareholder teardown team, bringing a private equity investor perspective to corporate clients. Justin also founded our work helping clients prepare for, and respond to, activist investors. 

Join our LinkedIn community of more than 90,000 members and follow us on Twitter at @McKStrategy. 

Explore our collection of Inside the Strategy Room episode transcripts on McKinsey.com

In this episode, we explore why and how business leaders, and CFOs in particular, should try to see their businesses as investors see them.  
We're joined by <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/chantal-lorbeer">Chantal Lorbeer</a>, a partner in our Munich office who advises global chemicals companies on their strategy, growth transformations, as well as their operating models and portfolio moves. Chantal co-leads our Strategy &amp; Corporate Finance Practice in Germany was well as chemicals capital-markets perspective globally.
Also joining us is <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmsanders">Justin Sanders</a>, a partner in our New York office who co-leads our shareholder teardown team, bringing a private equity investor perspective to corporate clients. Justin also founded our work helping clients prepare for, and respond to, activist investors. 
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.

Inside the Strategy Room

We all know the world is moving faster. We also know that 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 sit down with the world’s highest-performing CEOs, CFOs, innovators, and McKinsey experts and discuss how they build the courage, clarity, conviction, and cohesion that allows their businesses to win by moving faster than the world around them. 

We all know the world is moving faster. We also know that 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 sit down with the world’s highest-performing CEOs, CFOs, innovators, and McKinsey experts and discuss how they build the courage, clarity, conviction, and cohesion that allows their businesses to win by moving faster than the world around them.

Taking an investor's perspective on your business

172. Taking an investor's perspective on your business

Senior partners Alex D’Amico, Michael Birshan, and Andy West join us for a conversation about the latest developments in the field of strategy. They discuss how generative AI will change strategy creation, the importance of developing distinctive insights as part of the strategy process, and how to avoid social dynamics from derailing your organization’s best-laid plans.

Related insights:
Strategic courage in an age of volatility
Tying short-term decisions to long-term strategy
Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick
Eight shifts that will take your strategy into high gear
The social side of strategy
The board’s role in strategy

Senior partners <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/alex-damico">Alex D’Amico</a>, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/michael-birshan">Michael Birshan</a>, and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/andy-west">Andy West</a> join us for a conversation about the latest developments in the field of strategy. They discuss how generative AI will change strategy creation, the importance of developing distinctive insights as part of the strategy process, and how to avoid social dynamics from derailing your organization’s best-laid plans.
<hr>
Related insights:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/strategic-courage-in-an-age-of-volatility">Strategic courage in an age of volatility</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/tying-short-term-decisions-to-long-term-strategy">Tying short-term decisions to long-term strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/strategy-beyond-the-hockey-stick">Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/eight-shifts-that-will-take-your-strategy-into-high-gear">Eight shifts that will take your strategy into high gear</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srFWdifYv3s">The social side of strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://hbr.org/2018/12/the-boards-role-in-strategy">The board’s role in strategy</a></li>
</ul>

223. What’s new in strategy: A view from the frontlines

This week, Sandy Boss, Senior Managing Director at global investment firm BlackRock and Chair of BlackRock UK, joins us on the podcast. In a conversation with Michael Birshan, a senior partner and the global coleader of our Strategy & Corporate Finance Practice, Sandy shares her insights on geopolitics and the energy transition as well as her ‘five Cs’ for CFOs looking to take an investor’s perspective. We recorded their conversation at a recent gathering for CFOs in London. 

Related Insights 
What your most important investors need to know
Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, 7th edition

This week, Sandy Boss, Senior Managing Director at global investment firm BlackRock and Chair of BlackRock UK, joins us on the podcast. In a conversation with <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/michael-birshan">Michael Birshan</a>, a senior partner and the global coleader of our Strategy &amp; Corporate Finance Practice, Sandy shares her insights on geopolitics and the energy transition as well as her ‘five Cs’ for CFOs looking to take an investor’s perspective. We recorded their conversation at a recent gathering for CFOs in London. 
<hr>
Related Insights  <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/what-your-most-important-investors-need-to-know">What your most important investors need to know</a> <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/valuation-measuring-and-managing-the-value-of-companies">Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, 7th edition</a>

222. Investor perspective: A conversation with BlackRock’s Sandy Boss

Companies have endless initiatives and plans, all with the promise to transform the organization and deliver attractive financial returns. However experience indicates companies should focus on building an institutional capability that has the power to separate them from the rest. To discuss how to build this superpower we’re joined by Brad Mendelson, a senior partner based in our Cleveland Ohio office, and Tova Katzir, a partner in our New York office.

Related insights
Building a superpower: What can we learn from the Magnificent Seven?

What’s your superpower? How companies can build an institutional capability to achieve competitive advantage

Companies have endless initiatives and plans, all with the promise to transform the organization and deliver attractive financial returns. However experience indicates companies should focus on building an institutional capability that has the power to separate them from the rest. To discuss how to build this superpower we’re joined by <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/brad-mendelson">Brad Mendelson</a>, a senior partner based in our Cleveland Ohio office, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tova-katzir/">Tova Katzir</a>, a partner in our New York office.
<hr>
Related insights <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/growth-marketing-and-sales/our-insights/building-a-superpower-what-can-we-learn-from-the-magnificent-seven">Building a superpower: What can we learn from the Magnificent Seven?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/growth-marketing-and-sales/our-insights/whats-your-superpower-how-companies-can-build-an-institutional-capability-to-achieve-competitive-advantage">What’s your superpower? How companies can build an institutional capability to achieve competitive advantage</a>

172. Taking an investor's perspective on your business

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