This week, we’re joined by Scott Herren, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cisco Systems, and Eric Kutcher, Senior Partner and Chair of McKinsey & Company, North America. They discuss the rationale for Cisco's recent acquisition, the role of CFOs in driving change within a company, the impact of AI on finance, and the current geopolitical and economic climate. 

Related insights:

The Seasons of the CFO

Palo Alto Networks CFO on AI, cybersecurity, and the finance leader’s mandate

Data, analytics, and decisions: An interview with Teradata’s CFO

This week, we’re joined by <a href="https://newsroom.cisco.com/c/r/newsroom/en/us/executives/r-scott-herren.html#:~:text=R.,billion%20and%20approximately%2090%2C000%20employees.">Scott Herren</a>, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cisco Systems, and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/eric-kutcher">Eric Kutcher</a>, Senior Partner and Chair of McKinsey &amp; Company, North America. They discuss the rationale for Cisco's recent acquisition, the role of CFOs in driving change within a company, the impact of AI on finance, and the current geopolitical and economic climate. Related insights:
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-four-seasons-of-the-cfo">The Seasons of the CFO</a>
<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>
<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>

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;

218. Cisco Systems CFO on M&A, geopolitics, and the emerging AI opportunity

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>

319. Why strategy needs mobilization, especially in this moment 

In this bonus episode, McKinsey CFO practice leaders Kevin Carmody, Matt Maloney, and Christian Grube share their insights from the 2026 CFO Forum in London.

Their conversation explores how the CFO role is evolving from financial steward to strategic value creator; why leading finance organizations are moving beyond incremental budgeting; how AI can provide the catalyst to fundamentally rewire finance operating models rather than simply automate existing processes; and why talent and capability building will determine which organizations capture the greatest value.

They also discuss how CFOs can reclaim the strategic narrative, strengthen capital allocation, and create the headspace to focus on the bold moves that drive long-term growth.

 

Related insights 

Why accelerated resource allocation matters in the age of AI

CFOs have been concerned about geopolitical impacts for months

The CFO as growth leader: A conversation with Levi’s Harmit Singh

In this bonus episode, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/how-we-help-clients/cfo-and-finance-excellence">McKinsey CFO practice</a> leaders <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/kevin-carmody">Kevin Carmody</a>, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/matthew-maloney">Matt Maloney</a>, and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/christian-grube">Christian Grube</a> share their insights from the 2026 CFO Forum in London.
Their conversation explores how the CFO role is evolving from financial steward to strategic value creator; why leading finance organizations are moving beyond incremental budgeting; how AI can provide the catalyst to fundamentally rewire finance operating models rather than simply automate existing processes; and why talent and capability building will determine which organizations capture the greatest value.
They also discuss how CFOs can reclaim the strategic narrative, strengthen capital allocation, and create the headspace to focus on the bold moves that drive long-term growth.
&nbsp;
Related insights 
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/why-accelerated-resource-allocation-matters-in-the-age-of-ai">Why accelerated resource allocation matters in the age of AI</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/cfos-have-been-concerned-about-geopolitical-impacts-for-months">CFOs have been concerned about geopolitical impacts for months</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-cfo-as-growth-leader-a-conversation-with-levis-harmit-singh">The CFO as growth leader: A conversation with Levi&rsquo;s Harmit Singh</a>

318. Inside the 2026 CFO Forum: How finance leaders are preparing for what's next (bonus episode)

Private equity firms are under increasing pressure to create value in a tougher market, with longer hold times and evolving value creation theses. Leading funds are using re-underwriting as a repeatable discipline that supports better decisions across the hold period. Join AD Bhatia,Jason Phillips,Hassen Ahmed and Manuel Fernandez Angulo as they unpack the what, when and who of re-underwriting. They share how AI assistance, leaner teams and a systematic approach can help overcome resourcing restraints to place this practice in the reach of every fund.   

Related insights

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

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

Transforming value creation in private equity portfolio companies (podcast)

Private equity firms are under increasing pressure to create value in a tougher market, with longer hold times and evolving value creation theses. Leading funds are using re-underwriting as a repeatable discipline that supports better decisions across the hold period. Join <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/ad-bhatia">AD Bhatia,</a> <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/jason-phillips">Jason Phillips,</a> <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/hassen-ahmed">Hassen Ahmed</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://es.linkedin.com/in/manuelfernandezangulo?trk=people-guest_people_search-card">Manuel Fernandez Angulo</a> as they unpack the what, when and who of re-underwriting. They share how AI assistance, leaner teams and a systematic approach can help overcome resourcing restraints to place this practice in the reach of every fund. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Related insights
<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</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"> Markets </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">Re</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">port</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://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://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)

218. Cisco Systems CFO on M&A, geopolitics, and the emerging AI opportunity

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