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

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.

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

Corporate boards face increased complexity today, with heightened geopolitical risk key among the concerns they must consider as they guide the companies they serve. In this episode, three experts on boards and geopolitics discuss how boards can best adapt to this new normal. Dominic Barton is board chair for the metals and mining company Rio Tinto, and also for the impact investment firm Leapfrog investments. He's also a senior advisor and partner at the AI investment firm Radical Ventures. Previously, Dom served as Canada’s ambassador to China. And before that he was a McKinsey senior partner who served as our global managing partner for three terms. Frithjof Lund is a senior partner who leads our Board Services Practice as well as our Norway office. He helps boards of directors improve corporate governance. Ziad Haider is a partner and our global director of geopolitical risk. He is based in our Singapore office, and counsels CXOs and boards on how to build out their capabilities to better understand, monitor, and mitigate geopolitical risk.

Related insights

Eye in the sky: Launching a geopolitical risk unit

Building geopolitical resilience: The people agenda

Geopolitical risk: Navigating a world in flux

Helping boards manage geopolitical risk with Jon Huntsman Jr.

How global companies can manage geopolitical risk

How three global companies navigate geopolitical risk to build resilience

Can your company remain global and if so, how?

Black swans, gray rhinos, and silver linings: Anticipating geopolitical risks (and openings)

McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn

McKinsey Geopolitics

Corporate boards face increased complexity today, with heightened geopolitical risk key among the concerns they must consider as they guide the companies they serve.&nbsp;In this episode, three experts on boards and geopolitics discuss how boards can best adapt to this new normal.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.riotinto.com/en/about/board-of-directors/dominic-barton">Dominic Barton</a> is board chair for the metals and mining company Rio Tinto, and also for the impact investment firm Leapfrog investments. He's also a senior advisor and partner at the AI investment firm Radical Ventures. Previously, Dom served as Canada&rsquo;s ambassador to China. And before that he was a McKinsey senior partner who served as our global managing partner for three terms. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/frithjof-lund">Frithjof Lund </a>is a senior partner who leads our Board Services Practice as well as our Norway office. He helps boards of directors improve corporate governance. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/ziad-haider">Ziad Haider</a> is a partner and our global director of geopolitical risk. He is based in our Singapore office, and counsels CXOs and boards on how to build out their capabilities to better understand, monitor, and mitigate geopolitical risk. 
Related insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/eye-in-the-sky-launching-a-geopolitical-risk-unit">Eye in the sky: Launching a geopolitical risk unit</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/building-geopolitical-resilience-the-people-agenda">Building geopolitical resilience: The people agenda</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/geopolitical-risk-navigating-a-world-in-flux">Geopolitical risk: Navigating a world in flux</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/helping-boards-manage-geopolitical-risk-with-jon-huntsman-jr">Helping boards manage geopolitical risk with Jon Huntsman Jr.</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/how-global-companies-can-manage-geopolitical-risk">How global companies can manage geopolitical risk</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/how-three-global-companies-navigate-geopolitical-risk-to-build-resilience">How three global companies navigate geopolitical risk to build resilience</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/can-your-company-remain-global-and-if-so-how">Can your company remain global and if so, how?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/black-swans-gray-rhinos-and-silver-linings-anticipating-geopolitical-risks-and-openings">Black swans, gray rhinos, and silver linings: Anticipating geopolitical risks (and openings)</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&amp;-corporate-finance/">McKinsey Strategy &amp; Corporate Finance on LinkedIn</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/geopolitics/our-insights">McKinsey Geopolitics</a><a></a>

230. How  boards can tackle geopolitical risk

Too often, business transformation is treated as a short-term exercise or financial goal. In this episode, three of our transformation experts share the core elements of a sustained transformation, in which mindsets shift, expectations change, and new heights are reached.

Stephan Görner is a senior partner and the global co-leader of our Transformation Practice. He was joined by senior partner Michael Bucy and associate partner Rachel McKlindon.

Related insights

Sustaining the momentum of a transformation

Why isn’t your transformation showing up in the bottom line?

What is business transformation?

Losing from day one: Why even successful transformations fall short

To deliver a transformation’s full potential, put the front line first

The powerful role financial incentives can play in a transformation

How many people are really needed in a transformation?

McKinsey Insights on Transformation

McKinsey Transformation on LinkedIn 

 

 

Too often, business transformation is treated as a short-term exercise or financial goal. In this episode, three of our transformation experts share the core elements of a sustained transformation, in which mindsets shift, expectations change, and new heights are reached. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/rts/our-people" data-attrib-id="link-200dacb8-2a34-416d-9f14-b04e6e0a3bf5">Stephan G&ouml;rner</a> is a senior partner and the global co-leader of our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/our-insights">Transformation Practice</a>. He was joined by senior partner <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/michael-bucy" data-attrib-id="link-a3bcd792-e6e5-49f9-94e3-b11ddc0b3210">Michael Bucy</a> and associate partner <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-mcklindon-3b03a653/" data-attrib-id="link-08818834-1ba7-4be4-9ca0-6f03847f697c">Rachel McKlindon</a>.
<hr>
<a></a>Related insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/rts/our-insights/sustaining-the-momentum-of-a-transformation">Sustaining the momentum of a transformation</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/why-isnt-your-transformation-showing-up-in-the-bottom-line">Why isn&rsquo;t your transformation showing up in the bottom line?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-business-transformation">What is business transformation?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/successful-transformations">Losing from day one: Why even successful transformations fall short</a>
<a></a><a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/locations/mckinsey-client-capabilities-network/our-work/strategic-and-change-communications/the-communications-exchange/to-deliver-a-transformations-full-potential-put-the-front-line-first">To deliver a transformation&rsquo;s full potential, put the front line first</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/our-insights/the-powerful-role-financial-incentives-can-play-in-a-transformation">The powerful role financial incentives can play in a transformation</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/our-insights/how-many-people-are-really-needed-in-a-transformation">How many people are really needed in a transformation?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/our-insights">McKinsey Insights on Transformation</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-transformation/">McKinsey Transformation on LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

229. How to sustain transformation success

Sourcing and retaining talent is an evergreen challenge for companies, and it is even more important to realizing value creation goals in private capital backed companies. In this episode we hear from two of our experts on the subject. Marla Capozzi is a partner in our Boston office and a leader and founder of CEO Alpha, our initiative to deliver outperformance for private company CEOs and future leaders. At the time of recording, Dr. Claudy Jules was a partner in our Washington, DC, office and a leader in our private capital practice. He has since left our firm. 

Related Insights 

McKinsey insights on private capital

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

Achieving hypergrowth: It’s all about the people

Chief performance officers can be a secret ingredient for private equity success. Here’s why

Five alphas: Essential capabilities to succeed in the next era of private capital

CEO alpha: A new approach to generating private equity outperformance

The CEO alpha: The advantages of exceptional leadership

Sourcing and retaining talent is an evergreen challenge for companies, and it is even more important to realizing value creation goals in private capital backed companies. In this episode we hear from two of our experts on the subject. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/marla-capozzi">Marla Capozzi</a> is a partner in our Boston office and a leader and founder of CEO Alpha, our initiative to deliver outperformance for private company CEOs and future leaders. At the time of recording, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudyjules">Dr. Claudy Jules</a> was a partner in our Washington, DC, office and a leader in our private capital practice. He has since left our firm. 
<hr>
Related Insights 
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights">McKinsey insights on private capital</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.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/achieving-hypergrowth-its-all-about-the-people">Achieving hypergrowth: It’s all about the people</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights/chief-performance-officers-can-be-a-secret-ingredient-for-private-equity-success-heres-why">Chief performance officers can be a secret ingredient for private equity success. Here’s why</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights/five-alphas-essential-capabilities-to-succeed-in-the-next-era-of-private-capital">Five alphas: Essential capabilities to succeed in the next era of private capital</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights/ceo-alpha-a-new-approach-to-generating-private-equity-outperformance">CEO alpha: A new approach to generating private equity outperformance</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights/the-ceo-alpha-the-advantages-of-exceptional-leadership">The CEO alpha: The advantages of exceptional leadership</a>

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

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