In this episode, we speak with Eric Olson, a retired US Navy Admiral with a distinguished career in special operations, about the key principles of effective leadership, particularly in times of uncertainty. Eric shares insights from his experiences leading high-performing teams and organizations through complex challenges, offering valuable leadership lessons for executives in today's rapidly changing business landscape. 

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 Journey of Leadership: How CEOs learn to lead from the inside out

Trusted advice for effective leadership

The CEO as chief resilience officer

The Strategic CEO newsletter

McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance 

McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn 

 

In this episode, we speak with Eric Olson, a retired US Navy Admiral with a distinguished career in special operations, about the key principles of effective leadership, particularly in times of uncertainty. Eric shares insights from his experiences leading high-performing teams and organizations through complex challenges, offering valuable leadership lessons for executives in today's rapidly changing business landscape.&nbsp; Related insights:
<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.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-on-books/journey-of-leadership">The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs learn to lead from the inside out</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-organization-blog/trusted-advice-for-effective-leadership">Trusted advice for effective leadership</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-ceo-as-chief-resilience-officer">The CEO as chief resilience officer</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-strategic-ceo-7236955032997216256/">The Strategic CEO newsletter</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights">McKinsey Insights on Strategy &amp; Corporate Finance</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-corporate-finance/posts/?feedView=all">McKinsey Strategy &amp; Corporate Finance on LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;

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;

261. Retired US Navy Admiral Eric Olson: Leading effectively in uncertain times 

Health insurers are facing urgent challenges related to affordability, access, and how to safely and effectively leverage AI and emerging technologies. In this episode, McKinsey senior partner Celia Huber is joined by Brian Evanko, president and chief operating officer of The Cigna Group. In this role, Brian oversees all of the company's business units, including its two growth platforms: Cigna Healthcare, a health benefits business, and Evernorth, a health services business. Together, these business units serve customers in more than 30 countries.

From here, Brian has a unique view of the challenges facing the industry and the people it serves—including the fact that the vast amount of US healthcare spending goes toward chronic care. In their conversation, Brian shares his perspective on the innovation needed, such as through the adoption of AI, to improve affordability and support prevention.

Related Insights

Future of US healthcare: Gathering storm 2.0 or a golden age?

Tackling healthcare’s biggest burdens with generative AI

The race to create a vaccine: A conversation with Frank D’Amelio

Health insurers are facing urgent challenges related to affordability, access, and how to safely and effectively leverage AI and emerging technologies. In this episode, McKinsey senior partner <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/celia-huber">Celia Huber</a> is joined by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-c-evanko-463b5ab">Brian Evanko</a>, president and chief operating officer of <a href="https://www.thecignagroup.com/">The Cigna Group</a>. In this role, Brian oversees all of the company's business units, including its two growth platforms: Cigna Healthcare, a health benefits business, and Evernorth, a health services business. Together, these business units serve customers in more than 30 countries.
From here, Brian has a unique view of the challenges facing the industry and the people it serves&mdash;including the fact that the vast amount of US healthcare spending goes toward chronic care. In their conversation, Brian shares his perspective on the innovation needed, such as through the adoption of AI, to improve affordability and support prevention.
Related Insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/future-of-us-healthcare-gathering-storm-2-point-0-or-a-golden-age">Future of US healthcare: Gathering storm 2.0 or a golden age?</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/tackling-healthcares-biggest-burdens-with-generative-ai">Tackling healthcare&rsquo;s biggest burdens with generative AI</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/the-race-to-create-a-vaccine-a-conversation-with-frank-damelio">The race to create a vaccine: A conversation with Frank D&rsquo;Amelio</a>

286. The Cigna Group’s Brian Evanko on improving affordability and prevention in healthcare

CFOs are increasingly helping lead transformations of their companies, which has a range of implications for how they manage their time and stay up to date with technology. Leading transformation has often been viewed as more focused on other members of the C-suite. McKinsey’s research shows the critical role that CFOs have in the success of a transformation. In this episode, we speak with three McKinsey experts on the subject.

Kevin Carmody is a senior partner and the global co-leader of our CFO and Finance Excellence Practice based in Chicago. Previously, Kevin was a founding member of our Transformation Practice and a member of its global operating committee. Christian Grube is a partner in our Munich office, and leads our CFO and Finance Excellence Practice across Europe. Matt Maloney is a partner in our New York office, and leads our CFO and Finance Excellence Practice in the Americas.

CFOs are increasingly helping lead transformations of their companies, which has a range of implications for how they manage their time and stay up to date with technology. Leading transformation has often been viewed as more focused on other members of the C-suite. McKinsey&rsquo;s research shows the critical role that CFOs have in the success of a transformation. In this episode, we speak with three McKinsey experts on the subject.
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/kevin-carmody">Kevin Carmody</a> is a senior partner and the global co-leader of our CFO and Finance Excellence Practice based in Chicago. Previously, Kevin was a founding member of our Transformation Practice and a member of its global operating committee. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/christian-grube">Christian Grube</a> is a partner in our Munich office, and leads our CFO and Finance Excellence Practice across Europe. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/matthew-maloney">Matt Maloney</a> is a partner in our New York office, and leads our CFO and Finance Excellence Practice in the Americas.

285. Keys to success for CFOs leading transformations

Leaders across both the public and private sectors are navigating an era of constant disruption. They're expected to deliver major transformations, manage complexity, and balance competing priorities, all while ensuring their own teams are running smoothly. This is why the role of chief of staff has never been more critical. In this episode, three McKinsey experts–all former chiefs of staff–share insights on when a chief of staff is needed and what qualities distinguish those who excel in the role.

Michelle Forrest is the global client capabilities leader in our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice, and previously served as chief of staff to our former global managing partner, Kevin Sneader. Andrew Goodman is a senior partner in our London office, and leads our consumer technology and media practice across Europe. He has also led our Chief of Staff Forum and our research into the role of the chief of staff for the past decade. Previously, Andrew served as chief of staff for the McKinsey Centre for Government, our center of excellence that helps government leaders deliver better outcomes and experiences. Connor Rochford is an associate partner who previously served as chief of staff for the U.K.'s former Chief Medical Officer.

Related insights

Anatomy of the chief of staff role

Chief of staff: Anatomy of the role in eight charts

How to be a better chief of staff

Seeing around corners: How to excel as a chief of staff

Lessons in leadership: Getting past politics to deliver for the people

Seven tips for success for new chiefs of staff at federal government agencies

Leaders across both the public and private sectors are navigating an era of constant disruption. They're expected to deliver major transformations, manage complexity, and balance competing priorities, all while ensuring their own teams are running smoothly. This is why the role of chief of staff has never been more critical. In this episode, three McKinsey experts&ndash;all former chiefs of staff&ndash;share insights on when a chief of staff is needed and what qualities distinguish those who excel in the role.
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/michelle-forrest">Michelle Forrest</a> is the global client capabilities leader in our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice, and previously served as chief of staff to our former global managing partner, Kevin Sneader. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/andrew-goodman">Andrew Goodman</a> is a senior partner in our London office, and leads our consumer technology and media practice across Europe. He has also led our Chief of Staff Forum and our research into the role of the chief of staff for the past decade. Previously, Andrew served as chief of staff for the McKinsey Centre for Government, our center of excellence that helps government leaders deliver better outcomes and experiences. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-rochford-748a3751/?originalSubdomain=uk">Connor Rochford</a> is an associate partner who previously served as chief of staff for the U.K.'s former Chief Medical Officer.
Related insights
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/search?q=chief+of+staff&amp;pageFilter=insights&amp;sort=default&amp;start=1">Anatomy of the chief of staff role</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/chief-of-staff-anatomy-of-the-role-in-eight-charts">Chief of staff: Anatomy of the role in eight charts</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-to-be-a-better-chief-of-staff">How to be a better chief of staff</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/seeing-around-corners-how-to-excel-as-a-chief-of-staff">Seeing around corners: How to excel as a chief of staff</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/lessons-in-leadership-getting-past-politics-to-deliver-for-the-people">Lessons in leadership: Getting past politics to deliver for the people</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-sector/our-insights/seven-tips-for-success-for-new-chiefs-of-staff-at-government-agencies">Seven tips for success for new chiefs of staff at federal government agencies</a>

261. Retired US Navy Admiral Eric Olson: Leading effectively in uncertain times

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