Zane Rowe is the CFO of Workday, a California-based company that develops enterprise software for managing finance, HR, and planning. Workday has been growing rapidly, and its growth-oriented culture is a central theme of the discussion we recorded between Zane and McKinsey's CFO Eric Kutcher



Listen to Eric's conversation with Palo Alto Network's CFO, Dipak Golechha: https://link.chtbl.com/SgZPqa6t

Listen to Eric's conversation with Teradata CFO Claire Bramley: https://link.chtbl.com/w3ustEBP

Join our Strategy and Corporate Finance  LinkedIn community and follow us on X at @McKStrategy. 

Related reading: 

Data, analytics, and decisions: An interview with Teradata’s CFO
Palo Alto Networks CFO on AI, cybersecurity, and the finance leader’s mandate
Gen AI: A guide for CFOs

<a href="https://www.workday.com/en-au/company/about-workday/leadership/zane-rowe.html">Zane Rowe</a> is the CFO of <a href="https://www.workday.com/en-au/homepage.html">Workday</a>, a California-based company that develops enterprise software for managing finance, HR, and planning. Workday has been growing rapidly, and its growth-oriented culture is a central theme of the discussion we recorded between Zane and McKinsey's CFO <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/eric-kutcher">Eric Kutcher</a> <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/w3ustEBP"></a>
<hr>
Listen to Eric's conversation with Palo Alto Network's CFO, Dipak Golechha: <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/SgZPqa6t">https://link.chtbl.com/SgZPqa6t</a>
Listen to Eric's conversation with Teradata CFO Claire Bramley: <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/w3ustEBP">https://link.chtbl.com/w3ustEBP</a>
Join our Strategy and Corporate Finance  <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&amp;-corporate-finance/?viewAsMember=true">LinkedIn community</a> and follow us on X at <a href="https://twitter.com/McKStrategy">@McKStrategy</a>.  Related reading:  <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/data-analytics-and-decisions-an-interview-with-teradatas-cfo"></a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/data-analytics-and-decisions-an-interview-with-teradatas-cfo">Data, analytics, and decisions: An interview with Teradata’s CFO</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/palo-alto-networks-cfo-on-ai-cybersecurity-and-the-finance-leaders-mandate">Palo Alto Networks CFO on AI, cybersecurity, and the finance leader’s mandate</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/gen-ai-a-guide-for-cfos">Gen AI: A guide for CFOs</a></li>
</ul>

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;

197. Growth, AI, and the future of finance:  An interview with Workday’s CFO Zane Rowe

Buy-side carve-outs can create significant value for acquiring companies, but they can also present complex challenges. In this episode, we’re joined by Kameron Kordestani, Anna Mattson, and Rui Silva to discuss how leaders—particularly CFOs, integration managers, and CHROs—must balance financial structuring, operational planning, and people management to ensure a value-creating transition.

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How buyers can successfully navigate integrating a carve-out

The power of goodbye: How carve-outs can unleash value

Solving the carve-out conundrum

Buy-side carve-outs can create significant value for acquiring companies, but they can also present complex challenges. In this episode, we&rsquo;re joined by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kameronkordestani">Kameron Kordestani</a>, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/anna-mattsson">Anna Mattson</a>, and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/rui-silva">Rui Silva</a> to discuss how leaders&mdash;particularly CFOs, integration managers, and CHROs&mdash;must balance financial structuring, operational planning, and people management to ensure a value-creating transition.
Related insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/how-buyers-can-successfully-navigate-integrating-a-carve-out">How buyers can successfully navigate integrating a carve-out</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-power-of-goodbye-how-carve-outs-can-unleash-value">The power of goodbye: How carve-outs can unleash value</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/solving-the-carve-out-conundrum">Solving the carve-out conundrum</a>

307. Making buy-side carve-outs work for everyone

Outperformance in private equity is no longer defined by leverage or multiple expansion; disciplined value creation will be the decisive factor in future investment success. In this episode, AD Bhatia, Robin Ligon, and Jason Phillips are joined by CVC’s John Kelleher to discuss the key shifts in today’s PE environment and share five moves firms are making in response. The path to transforming value creation requires a more disciplined playbook: structured re-diligence, holistic transformation under a dedicated transformation leadership, stronger operating-team talent, and the use of AI as a portfolio-wide accelerator.

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2026 Global Private Markets Report 

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

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McKinsey Strategy and Corporate Finance on LinkedIn

McKinsey Transformation on LinkedIn

Outperformance in private equity is no longer defined by leverage or multiple expansion; disciplined value creation will be the decisive factor in future investment success. In this episode, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/ad-bhatia?cid=cl4c-cml&amp;sid=%7b%7blead.SFDC%20Id:default=CL4C%7d%7d">AD Bhatia</a>, <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Frobinligon%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7CClare_Kitada-SYDN%40external.mckinsey.com%7Cc5be7b773c324384e6d408deb507a56b%7Ccc8936bc93824fff87cb6f55999549e7%7C0%7C0%7C639147241691032195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=jVqR%2BAHdnuymF2xfBFMV0AtVTmaz7vSvQ7AKo9vtCfE%3D&amp;reserved=0">Robin Ligon</a>, and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/jason-phillips?cid=cl4c-cml&amp;sid=%7b%7blead.SFDC%20Id:default=CL4C%7d%7d">Jason Phillips</a>&nbsp;are joined by CVC&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=&amp;ved=2ahUKEwij4IfJjMeUAxVanK8BHVTKNAsQFnoECCAQAQ&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fjckelleher&amp;usg=AOvVaw3gHREE4pb31oR2LCk2J-EY&amp;opi=89978449">John Kelleher</a> to discuss the key shifts in today&rsquo;s PE environment and share five moves firms are making in response. The path to transforming value creation requires a more disciplined playbook: structured re-diligence, holistic transformation under a dedicated transformation leadership, stronger operating-team talent, and the use of AI as a portfolio-wide accelerator.
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<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://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-corporate-finance/">McKinsey Strategy and Corporate Finance on LinkedIn</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-transformation/">McKinsey Transformation on LinkedIn</a>

306. Transforming value creation in private equity portfolio companies

For CEOs, the first 100 days often get the most attention. But the final chapter of a CEO’s tenure can be just as consequential. In this episode, senior partner Carolyn Dewar speaks with Charles Lowrey, former executive chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, about what it takes to finish strong and manage a successful leadership transition.

Lowrey reflects on his unexpected path to the CEO role, the lessons he learned while leading through the pandemic, and why he began discussing succession with the board before officially taking the job. He explains how Prudential developed internal candidates, planned the handover in detail, and worked to make the market’s reaction to the transition “a huge yawn.”

The conversation also explores the personal side of stepping away: preparing for life after the CEO role, avoiding the temptation to remain too involved, and finding new ways to contribute. For current and aspiring CEOs, Lowrey offers practical guidance on legacy, succession, and the discipline required to lead until the very end.

Related insights

A CEO For All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership

CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest

The Strategic CEO LinkedIn newsletter

Sending it forward: Successfully transitioning out of the CEO role

For CEOs, the first 100 days often get the most attention. But the final chapter of a CEO&rsquo;s tenure can be just as consequential. In this episode, senior partner <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/carolyn-dewar">Carolyn Dewar</a> speaks with Charles Lowrey, former executive chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial, about what it takes to finish strong and manage a successful leadership transition.
Lowrey reflects on his unexpected path to the CEO role, the lessons he learned while leading through the pandemic, and why he began discussing succession with the board before officially taking the job. He explains how Prudential developed internal candidates, planned the handover in detail, and worked to make the market&rsquo;s reaction to the transition &ldquo;a huge yawn.&rdquo;
The conversation also explores the personal side of stepping away: preparing for life after the CEO role, avoiding the temptation to remain too involved, and finding new ways to contribute. For current and aspiring CEOs, Lowrey offers practical guidance on legacy, succession, and the discipline required to lead until the very end.
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<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/ceo-for-all-seasons">A CEO For All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/ceo-excellence">CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7236955032997216256">The Strategic CEO LinkedIn newsletter</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/sending-it-forward-successfully-transitioning-out-of-the-ceo-role">Sending it forward: Successfully transitioning out of the CEO role</a>

197. Growth, AI, and the future of finance: An interview with Workday’s CFO Zane Rowe

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