John Stankey has led AT&T as CEO since July 2020, and was elected Chairman of the Board in February this year. Over his 40-year tenure, John has held multiple senior leadership roles across the breadth of AT&T’s businesses, including turns as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer. 

In this episode, John speaks with McKinsey senior partner and North America Chair Eric Kutcher about his journey at AT&T. They discuss how John pivoted the portfolio, how he trusted in long-term ‘big bets’ amidst the current wave of economic change, and the meaning of leaving a legacy at a 150-year-old company.


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CEO Perspectives

The Strategic CEO

John Stankey has led AT&amp;T as CEO since July 2020, and was elected Chairman of the Board in February this year. Over his 40-year tenure, John has held multiple senior leadership roles across the breadth of AT&amp;T&rsquo;s businesses, including turns as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer.&nbsp;
In this episode, John speaks with McKinsey senior partner and North America Chair Eric Kutcher about his journey at AT&amp;T. They discuss how John pivoted the portfolio, how he trusted in long-term &lsquo;big bets&rsquo; amidst the current wave of economic change, and the meaning of leaving a legacy at a 150-year-old company.
<hr>
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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-strategic-ceo-7236955032997216256/">The Strategic CEO</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;

254. John Stankey, AT&T’s CEO and Chairman of the Board, on embracing long-term vision

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.

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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.
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmeGg9ruEhk">How to maximize competitive advantage</a>
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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.

 

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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;
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<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.   

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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;
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<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)

254. John Stankey, AT&T’s CEO and Chairman of the Board, on embracing long-term vision

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