This week, we feature a conversation between Alex Gorsky, former chair and CEO of Johnson & Johnson, and Andy West, senior partner and global coleader of our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice. 

Alex discusses his approach to developing strategy, the challenges and rewards of developing a successful innovation and M&A pipeline, and his approach to decision-making and building a star team. 

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CEO Excellence

Gen AI: Opportunities in M&A

Top M&A trends in 2024: Blueprint for success in the next wave of deals

This week, we feature a conversation between Alex Gorsky, former chair and CEO of Johnson &amp; Johnson, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/west-andy/">Andy West</a>, senior partner and global coleader of our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice. Alex discusses his approach to developing strategy, the challenges and rewards of developing a successful innovation and M&amp;A pipeline, and his approach to decision-making and building a star team. 
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<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/ceo-excellence">CEO Excellence</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/gen-ai-opportunities-in-m-and-a">Gen AI: Opportunities in M&amp;A</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/top-m-and-a-trends-in-2024-blueprint-for-success-in-the-next-wave-of-deals">Top M&amp;A trends in 2024: Blueprint for success in the next wave of deals</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;

225. Alex Gorsky, former chair and CEO of Johnson & Johnson

Top dealmakers entered 2025 expecting to overcome continued challenges, but few anticipated how sharply trade and geopolitical pressures would intensify. In this episode, Jake Henry and Mieke Van Oostende, the global co-leaders of our M&A Practice, share key themes from our annual M&A report. They reflect on how dealmakers maintained focus, adjusted portfolios, and capitalized on shifting sector dynamics to drive substantial growth in 2025. They also share their perspectives on the five trends driving M&A in 2026.

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Read the full report on McKinsey.com: 2026 M&A trends: Navigating a rapidly rebounding market

Top dealmakers entered 2025 expecting to overcome continued challenges, but few anticipated how sharply trade and geopolitical pressures would intensify. In this episode, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/jake-henry">Jake Henry</a> and <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/mieke-van-oostende">Mieke Van Oostende</a>, the global co-leaders of our M&amp;A Practice, share key themes from our annual M&amp;A report. They reflect on how dealmakers maintained focus, adjusted portfolios, and capitalized on shifting sector dynamics to drive substantial growth in 2025. They also share their perspectives on the five trends driving M&amp;A in 2026.
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Read the full report on McKinsey.com: <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/m-and-a/our-insights/top-m-and-a-trends">2026 M&amp;A trends: Navigating a rapidly rebounding market</a>

292. 2026 M&A Trends: Navigating a rapidly rebounding market

Jane Fraser, Chair and CEO of Citi, talks with McKinsey Senior Partner and North America Managing Partner Eric Kutcher. After becoming CEO in March 2021, Jane launched a multi-year strategy to transform, simplify, and modernize the bank for the digital age – leveraging Citi’s unique global context to reset where and how it competes. Jane speaks about what the last five years have looked like for Citi and the role AI and blockchain technologies are playing, as well as what she’s learned along the way about talent, intent, and resilience. She also shares the global trends she is seeing as one of the world’s most well-travelled CEOs.

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‘You’ve got to be willing to “do,” as opposed to getting disrupted by somebody else’: A conversation with IBM CEO Arvind Krishna

‘Saying “I don’t know” is one of the hardest things a leader can do’: A conversation with Delta CEO Ed Bastian

Jane Fraser, Chair and CEO of Citi, talks with McKinsey Senior Partner and North America Managing Partner Eric Kutcher. After becoming CEO in March 2021, Jane launched a multi-year strategy to transform, simplify, and modernize the bank for the digital age &ndash; leveraging Citi&rsquo;s unique global context to reset where and how it competes. Jane speaks about what the last five years have looked like for Citi and the role AI and blockchain technologies are playing, as well as what she&rsquo;s learned along the way about talent, intent, and resilience. She also shares the global trends she is seeing as one of the world&rsquo;s most well-travelled CEOs.
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<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/youve-got-to-be-willing-to-do-as-opposed-to-getting-disrupted-by-somebody-else-a-conversation-with-ibm-ceo-arvind-krishna">&lsquo;You&rsquo;ve got to be willing to &ldquo;do,&rdquo; as opposed to getting disrupted by somebody else&rsquo;: A conversation with IBM CEO Arvind Krishna</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/saying-i-dont-know-is-one-of-the-hardest-things-a-leader-can-do-a-conversation-with-delta-ceo-ed-bastian">&lsquo;Saying &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know&rdquo; is one of the hardest things a leader can do&rsquo;: A conversation with Delta CEO Ed Bastian</a>

291. ‘Having a human bank is very important’: A conversation with Citi CEO Jane Fraser

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.
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<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>

225. Alex Gorsky, former chair and CEO of Johnson & Johnson

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