What AI can’t replace—and why it matters for value

AI can help us get our work done faster. But are we actually happier? “Most adults spend most of their waking hours at the office, and right now, many of them aren’t enjoying that at all,” according to Stanford research psychologist Jamil Zaki. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Zaki joins M…

Leading when change feels threatening

Leaders love to talk about resistance to change, but, as McKinsey research shows, resistance isn’t the full story. Fear of loss is a huge part of transformation, too, when roles, routines, and relationships are meaningfully redefined. On this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, McKinsey Partner Johan…

Your AI agents need performance management, too

Agents: Everybody’s got them. But who’s managing them? And what happens to the human talent working alongside them—and being asked to show up differently as a result? “The rise of AI doesn’t mean we all suddenly devolve our responsibilities for quality control and critical thinking,” says Kate Smaj…

Is the AI productivity story at a turning point?

"Is my generation doomed?" That’s what one Stanford graduating senior asked Professor Erik Brynjolfsson, economist and director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. The professor had seen the data, so he didn’t dismiss the question. But as productivity gains begin to emerge, Brynjolfsson argues tha…

What it takes to build “genius at scale”

That elusive Eureka moment: Every leader strives for it—but it can’t be forced. And as Harvard Business School Professor Linda Hill argues in her new book Genius at Scale: How Great Leaders Drive Innovation (Harvard Business Publishing, March 2026), innovation is less about a flash of insight than …

The problem with ‘bringing your whole self to work’

Being yourself at work has become a corporate mantra—and it certainly started in a well-meaning way. But it can also have significant downsides, according to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead). In this episode of McKinsey Tal…

US manufacturing’s next test: Building a workforce for a new era

Manufacturing is back at the center of the US economic agenda. Yet the sector faces a persistent talent shortage—and to bridge it, leaders will need to rethink how they attract, train, and retain a new generation of manufacturing employees. “Manufacturers need to be driving the conversation, not wa…

How smart people end up in the wrong careers

Many high performers think they’re doing everything right—yet still feel somehow wrong about their day-to-day. And the advent of AI means work-related decision-making is more complex than ever. As job uncertainty ups the ante, more employees might be tempted to settle for the “B+ life,” in the word…

What leaders can learn from Homeboy Industries

In the US, many companies still struggle to fill essential roles. What if part of the solution involves talent that has traditionally been overlooked? Take Johanna Carbajal, who spent her adolescence shuttling between juvenile hall, foster care, and the streets before landing in prison at 18. Afte…

Building a talent pipeline for the AI era

AI is ushering in a new era of work, and smart employers are staying ahead of the curve by rethinking how to cultivate the skills their organizations need to thrive. The best leaders realize they won’t be able to do it alone, according to Beth Cobert, president of affiliates and strategic partnersh…