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.

Related Insights

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.
Related Insights
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>

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;

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

Generative AI is reshaping the way investors evaluate opportunities and replacing much of the manual work involved in completing an outside-in diligence. Firms that adapt the fastest during this transition have the most to gain. To discuss how the deployment of gen AI in diligence can give organizations an investment edge and explore the shift from traditional diligence to AI-enabled, outside-in analysis we’re joined by David Pralong, a senior partner and the global leader of our Transformation Practice,  William Bundy, a partner in our Washington D.C office, Chase Covington, a partner based in our New York office, and Laura Borton, a consultant also based in our New York office.

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From potential to performance: Using gen AI to conduct outside-in diligence

Creating Value in Portfolio Company Operations: A Practical Guide to Growing Cash Flow in Business

Wave: Your path to unprecedented performance

McKinsey insights on transformation

McKinsey insights on Strategy and Corporate Finance

McKinsey Transformation on LinkedIn

McKinsey Strategy and Corporate Finance on LinkedIn

Generative AI is reshaping the way investors evaluate opportunities and replacing much of the manual work involved in completing an outside-in diligence. Firms that adapt the fastest during this transition have the most to gain. To discuss how the deployment of gen AI in diligence can give organizations an investment edge and explore the shift from traditional diligence to AI-enabled, outside-in analysis we&rsquo;re joined by <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/david-pralong">David Pralong</a>, a senior partner and the global leader of our Transformation Practice,&nbsp; William Bundy, a partner in our Washington D.C office, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/chase-covington">Chase Covington</a>, a partner based in our New York office, and Laura Borton, a consultant also based in our New York office.
Related Insights 
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/our-insights/from-potential-to-performance-using-gen-ai-to-conduct-outside-in-diligence">From potential to performance: Using gen AI to conduct outside-in diligence</a>
<a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/creating-value-in-portfolio-company-operations-william-bundy/1143981002#:~:text=%22Creating%20Value%20in%20Portfolio%20Company%20Operations%22%20is%20an%20essential%20toolkit,poised%20to%20make%20their%20mark">Creating Value in Portfolio Company Operations: A Practical Guide to Growing Cash Flow in Business</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/how-we-help-clients/wave/overview">Wave: Your path to unprecedented performance</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/transformation/our-insights">McKinsey insights on transformation</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights">McKinsey insights on Strategy and Corporate Finance</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-transformation/posts/?feedView=all">McKinsey Transformation on LinkedIn</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-corporate-finance">McKinsey Strategy and Corporate Finance on LinkedIn</a>

301. Using generative AI to conduct outside-in diligence

Generative and agentic AI are moving rapidly from experimentation to enterprise-wide transformation—but many CEOs are still grappling with what this really means for their business.

In this episode, McKinsey experts Tanguy Catlin, Sandra Durth, Lari Hämäläinen, and Antoine Montard examine why AI is being viewed as a true general-purpose technology, on par with past breakthroughs like electricity and the internet, and what that implies for competition, investment, and long-term value creation. 

We discuss the importance of thinking across strategy, technology, and organization to maximize the value from AI—and why focusing on productivity alone may not be enough to win.

We also unpack the practical challenges leaders face and how to address them including redesigning workflows and operating models, managing large-scale workforce transitions, and building the skills and organizational capabilities needed to capture AI’s full potential.

Related insights  

The agentic AI opportunity

Building the foundations for agentic AI at scale

Seizing the agentic AI advantage

A Century of Plenty

New MIT Sloan research suggests that AI is more likely to complement, not replace, human workers

Generative and agentic AI are moving rapidly from experimentation to enterprise-wide transformation&mdash;but many CEOs are still grappling with what this really means for their business.
In this episode, McKinsey experts <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/tanguy-catlin">Tanguy Catlin</a>, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/sandra-durth">Sandra Durth</a>, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/lari-hamalainen">Lari H&auml;m&auml;l&auml;inen</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/antoine-montard/">Antoine Montard</a> examine why AI is being viewed as a true general-purpose technology, on par with past breakthroughs like electricity and the internet, and what that implies for competition, investment, and long-term value creation.&nbsp; We discuss the importance of thinking across strategy, technology, and organization to maximize the value from AI&mdash;and why focusing on productivity alone may not be enough to win.
We also unpack the practical challenges leaders face and how to address them including redesigning workflows and operating models, managing large-scale workforce transitions, and building the skills and organizational capabilities needed to capture AI&rsquo;s full potential.
Related insights&nbsp; 
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/quarterly/the-five-fifty/five-fifty-the-agentic-ai-opportunity">The agentic AI opportunity</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/mckinsey-technology/our-insights/building-the-foundations-for-agentic-ai-at-scale">Building the foundations for agentic AI at scale</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/seizing-the-agentic-ai-advantage">Seizing the agentic AI advantage</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/mgi/our-research/a-century-of-plenty">A Century of Plenty</a>
<a href="https://mitsloan.mit.edu/press/new-mit-sloan-research-suggests-ai-more-likely-to-complement-not-replace-human-workers">New MIT Sloan research suggests that AI is more likely to complement, not replace, human workers</a>

300. The CEO’s agenda for thriving in the agentic age

For new CEOs, engaging stakeholders is one of the most important—and most challenging—parts of the job. In this episode, Carolyn Dewar, Blair Epstein, and Eric Sherman discuss how CEOs can build a strong stakeholder strategy from day one.

Drawing on research and their work with leaders across industries, they explore why stakeholder engagement matters so much, the unique challenges new CEOs face, and how leaders can best balance competing priorities across investors, employees, customers, regulators, and communities. They also discuss practical ways to create a clear narrative, strengthen communication, and build leverage through the top team.

Related insights 

Nail your firsts: A new CEO’s guide to stakeholder impact

How the best CEOs build lasting stakeholder relationships

Your best day won’t define you as CEO—your worst one will

A CEO For All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership

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

The Strategic CEO newsletter on LinkedIn

For new CEOs, engaging stakeholders is one of the most important&mdash;and most challenging&mdash;parts of the job. In this episode, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/carolyn-dewar">Carolyn Dewar</a>, <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/blair-epstein">Blair Epstein</a>, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-sherman-2aa66930/">Eric Sherman</a> discuss how CEOs can build a strong stakeholder strategy from day one.
Drawing on research and their work with leaders across industries, they explore why stakeholder engagement matters so much, the unique challenges new CEOs face, and how leaders can best balance competing priorities across investors, employees, customers, regulators, and communities. They also discuss practical ways to create a clear narrative, strengthen communication, and build leverage through the top team.
Related insights 
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/nail-your-firsts-a-new-ceos-guide-to-stakeholder-impact">Nail your firsts: A new CEO&rsquo;s guide to stakeholder impact</a>
<a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/how-the-best-ceos-build-lasting-stakeholder-relationships">How the best CEOs build lasting stakeholder relationships</a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/your-best-day-wont-define-you-ceoyour-ndj7c/">Your best day won&rsquo;t define you as CEO&mdash;your worst one will</a>
<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://bit.ly/429GQgx">The Strategic CEO newsletter on LinkedIn</a>

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

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