More than half of M&A deals fail, while winning deals can deliver five times the average payoff. Daniel Friedman, BCG’s global leader of transactions and integrations, explains the importance of a clear plan, thoughtful choice of targets, and strong teamwork. Finally, if company cultures don’t mesh, even the strongest financial deals won’t create lasting value.    Learn More: Daniel Friedman: https://on.bcg.com/3V2Wlnp M&A Activity by Year: The BCG M&A Report Collection: https://on.bcg.com/3OdAV3j BCG on M&A: https://on.bcg.com/4hYkp4y CEO Moments of Truth: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Hubertus Meinecke, BCG’s global climate and sustainability lead, and Axel Reinaud, CEO of NetZero, discuss what climate startups can learn from large corporations and vice versa. Corporations have capital that startups need but take a long time to make decisions. Startups are fast moving and have strong technical skills but are short on the capital that large corporations can provide.  Learn More: Hubertus Meinecke: https://on.bcg.com/3AqhSzp Axel Reinaud: https://netzero.green/en/team/ NetZero: https://netzero.green/en/ Green Growth Accelerator: https://on.bcg.com/4furqrQ CEO Moments of Truth https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Judith Wallenstein, leader of BCG’s CEO Advisory, explains how chiefs of staff help CEO’s succeed and identify the characteristics that matter most in this role. The best chiefs of staff have integrity, confidence, and a selfless commitment to their boss —becoming part of a CEO’s inner circle by staying out of the spotlight. Learn More: Judith Wallenstein: https://on.bcg.com/402EekT CEO Agenda: https://on.bcg.com/400T1MM How CEOs Can Find the Right Chief of Staff: https://on.bcg.com/3NowT7K CEO Moments of Truth https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Mark Abraham, leader of BCG’s Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice in North America, explains how organizations can combine the physical and digital to create powerful customer experiences. As co-author of the new book Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI, Abraham explains that few actually hit the mark—wasting resources and leaving customers disappointed. Learn More: Mark Abraham: https://on.bcg.com/3NdACFc Read Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI: https://on.bcg.com/3zVUEAN BCG on Personalization: https://on.bcg.com/4eRv1QK CEO Moments of Truth: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

What are today’s big business challenges and why is it a great time to be a CEO? Christoph Schweizer talks about what he has learned in his three years at the helm.    Hear Christoph’s insights on how CEOs navigate difficult decisions, including his own "moment of truth" when he faced a critical challenge.  Learn More: Watch Christoph's one-on-one discussions with CEOs: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT Explore the latest for CEOs from CEOs: https://on.bcg.com/4exCwvS Christoph Schweizer: https://on.bcg.com/3MU8eaZ This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Can risk management evolve from a check-the-box exercise into a driver of innovation? Tad Roselund, BCG’s former chief risk officer, explains how organizations can create advantage by anticipating challenges, training employees to spot risks, and balancing prevention with recovery. Learn More: Tad Roselund: https://on.bcg.com/3WR4Ge2  BCG on Risk and Compliance: https://on.bcg.com/3Toc1RB CEO Moments of Truth: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoTThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Listen as BCG AI conversational agent GENE and editor in chief Paul Michelman highlight the opportunities and obstacles ahead for CEOs, as outlined in BCG’s most recent thought leadership. The duo share which steps to take now before an expected M&A resurgence, the lessons to be learned from fintech, and how to advance carbon dioxide reduction. LEARN MORE After you listen, dive deep into the details in these bcg.com publications: AI at Work 2024: Friend and Foe (https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/ai-at-work-friend-foe) M&A Insights H1 2024: The Recovery Continues (https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/m-and-a-market-insights-series-h1-2024) Prudence, Profits, and Growth (https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/global-fintech-prudence-profits-and-growth) Boosting Demand for Carbon Dioxide Removal (https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/boosting-demand-for-carbon-dioxide-removal) Subscribe to CEO Digest: https://link.chtbl.com/ceo-digest-bcg-showFor more insight from BCG on the CEO Agenda, visit https://on.bcg.com/4cSLtiu. Hear more of GENE on Imagine This… at https://link.chtbl.com/imagine-this-show-link, BCG’s future-focused podcast series. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

One in every three people will likely find their jobs significantly disrupted by AI in the next decade. Sagar Goel, leader of BCG’s work in digital reskilling and leadership development, talks about the role of the public and private sectors in preparing employees for this exciting, uncertain, and sometimes frightening world.   Learn More: Sagar Goel: https://on.bcg.com/46D3O12 Sagar’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC1QlUr5mCE BCG on AI: https://on.bcg.com/3SClDaT Reskilling in the Age of AI: https://hbr.org/2023/09/reskilling-in-the-age-of-aiThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In a world of microtargeted ads and niche audiences, sports remain one of the few remaining opportunities for brands to capture the attention of the masses. Dan Wald, global lead of BCG’s sports business, talks about how the Olympics works to stay relevant in a fragmented world. How can businesses and sports leagues incorporate this success into their current strategies?     Learn More: Dan Wald: https://on.bcg.com/4dfqw1g Marketing and Sales: https://on.bcg.com/46jJ7Hx This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The average US consumer belongs to around 14 loyalty programs. Edward Crouch, BCG’s global leader for loyalty and membership, explains how unique experiences and personalization can convert everyday customers into loyal fans.    Learn More: Edward Crouch: https://on.bcg.com/3zgpaF0 Loyalty Programs Need Next-Generation Design: https://on.bcg.com/4chjlWy Travel and Tourism: https://on.bcg.com/3KXgJ3X This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

One in every three US adults has a criminal record that follows them like a lead weight as they look for work. Lina Bankert, managing director and partner in BCG’s Chicago office, and Kathleen St. Louis Caliento, president and CEO of Cara Collective, explain that formerly incarcerated people can be model employees. Hiring always involves risk. By partnering with government agencies and nonprofit organizations, companies can set up fair-chance hires for success in the workplace. Many of them, for example, also need help with housing and transportation that agencies can provide.   Learn More: Lina Bankert: on.bcg.com/4c7gm2Q Kathleen St. Louis Caliento: Kathleen St. Louis Caliento - Cara Collective Three Roads to Equitable and Inclusive Talent Development: on.bcg.com/3xifUQa Cara Collective: Home - Cara Collective This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Brian Collie, BCG’s global leader for the automotive and mobility sector, explains that price and range anxiety remain as barriers to adoption of electric vehicles. Even so, recent BCG research in the US found that nearly 40% of surveyed consumers are considering a switch to electric for their next vehicle. To tap into that demand, manufacturers need to lower their cost structure—they currently lose $6,000-$30,000 per car—and work with partners.     Learn More: Brian Collie: on.bcg.com/3XnvKTX Automotive Industry: on.bcg.com/4ejyMid Can OEMs Catch the Next Wave of EV Adopters?: on.bcg.com/3KJ9UCS This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Banks and other financial systems are the lifeblood of the economy. But most of them trade at less than book value, constrained by regulation, the growth of private credit, and tech startups. Kilian Berz, global vice chair of BCG’s financial institutions practice, explains how traditional banks can regain their footing through leadership and transformation.Learn More:Kilian Berz:https://on.bcg.com/4bDKQcj Financial Institutions: https://on.bcg.com/3wLmFK5 To Seize a $7 Trillion Opportunity, Banks Need Bolder Strategies for Serving Customers and Society: https://on.bcg.com/4byWlSm   This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Current economic models are not up to the challenge of capturing the real-world complexities of climate change. But better models are on the horizon. Sophia Davies, BCG’s lead for climate tech partnerships, explains how AI can supercharge these models to predict how public policies will motivate the private sector. Early returns suggest we may be vastly underestimating the effect of policy on climate change.      Learn More: Climate and Sustainability: on.bcg.com/3QOGjeX AI: on.bcg.com/3K69aHS “Deep Design” Could Take On the World’s Big Systemic Challenges: https://on.bcg.com/3K6oFPV This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

If cybercrime were a country, it would be the third largest economy in the world. Paul O’Rourke, BCG’s global cybersecurity leader, explains how organizations can protect themselves and their supply chains: Start by recognizing that the elimination of all risks is impossible. Instead focus security efforts on an organization’s “crown jewels”—its most critical digital assets. Leaders don’t need to be cyber experts. But regulators may hold them responsible for some breaches, so they better understand and address the risks. Learn More: Paul O’Rourke: https://on.bcg.com/3QAoPCN Cybersecurity and Digital Risk: https://on.bcg.com/3UwRTwg Every C-Suite Member Is Now a Chief AI Officer: https://on.bcg.com/3UJ7ry9 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Joe Davis, BCG’s former regional chair for North America, says you can make tough decisions without being a “tough guy.” In the executive suite, empathy and authenticity are in, according to Davis, the author of the new business book, The Generous Leader.  Even as tech skills dominate the headlines, Davis celebrates the enduring value of mastering people skills. Learn More:  The Generous Leader: A Leadership Book by Joe Davis | The Generous Leader Joe Davis: https://on.bcg.com/3Q9pMlw Do Not Stop Asking Questions and Listening Carefully to the Answers: https://on.bcg.com/3Jx5LBy  Turning Superheroes into a Super Leadership Team: https://on.bcg.com/4d2fnlk This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Responsible investing goes back decades or even longer if pronouncements in the Old Testament and Qur’an are considered. Environment, social, and governance goals have become embedded in corporate strategy, even if the acronym ESG has become polarizing. Tim Mohin, director of climate and sustainability at BCG, discusses this evolution and what the next iteration might look like. One thing is clear: these goals aren’t going away even if companies stop talking about them.      Learn More: Tim Mohin: https://on.bcg.com/3TK47kE Climate Change and Sustainability: https://on.bcg.com/3xl1QoG This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The original BRIC acronym came to life in 2001 to describe the untapped economic potential of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. This informal grouping of nations has since coalesced into a rising economic force, especially since the entry of South Africa in 2010 and Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates at the start of this year. Daniel Azevedo—leader of BCG’s global advantage practice in Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Africa —explains how global companies can navigate a world in which economic power is heading south.   Learn More: Daniel Azevedo: https://on.bcg.com/3vli2Wc Jobs, National Security, and the Future of Trade: https://on.bcg.com/3TLkE9o These 9 Forces Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape: https://on.bcg.com/3VrSwJr This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

What would you have done differently if you had anticipated the likelihood of a global pandemic or the explosion of generative AI? In BCG’s newest podcast Imagine This..., BCG’s editor in chief Paul Michelman, and his AI co-host GENE delve into disruptive scenarios that could define the coming decades. BCG experts join the conversation, probing the possibilities and implications for leaders. Human and machine work together to explore the very real actions CEOs could take today to prepare.   By 2030, the best CIO might be a CIB: a chief intelligence bot. And the human CEO might be bolstered by a swarm of CEO bots, able to harness a vast diversity of perspectives. Can you imagine? In this episode, BCG’s Mickey McManus envisions a future where top leaders share the corner office with AI—blending the logical with human intuition. Mickey, a BCG senior advisor and a pioneer in human-centered design, considers how a company like this would function. Hint: he recommends an approach much like jazz improvisation.   Learn More You’ll find more of what BCG has to say about generative AI here:  https://on.bcg.com/3UuWtNd  GenAI on GenAI: https://link.chtbl.com/bcg-genai-on-genai?sid=IT  Also, in this episode, Mickey recommends an entirely new reading list for the C-suite, including:  Iain M. Banks’s Culture series: https://www.amazon.com/The-Culture-9-book-series/dp/B07WLZZ9WV Joy Buolamwini’s Unmasking AI [https://www.amazon.com/Unmasking-AI-Mission-Protect-Machines/dp/0593241835] Safiya Umoja Noble’s Algorithms of Oppression [https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-Oppression-Search-Engines-Reinforce/dp/1479837245] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

From 2010 to 2016, Africa was closing the gender gap faster than any region in the world. Challenges such as plunging commodity prices and the pandemic have set that progress back a generation. BCG’s Zineb Sqalli and Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye explain that domestic violence as well as unsafe public places are barriers in southern Africa. Traditional roles of women in families stand in the way of progress everywhere. Both public and private sectors must change the narrative to create inclusive work environments. Besides being the right thing to do, gender equity could boost Africa’s GDP by $300 billion a year. Learn More: Reframing the Narrative on Women’s Roles in African Societies: on.bcg.com/3UQd3Hx Zineb Sqalli: on.bcg.com/3wqCoO7 Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye: on.bcg.com/3UOVhnO This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

For many business leaders, cost efficiency took a backseat to the polycrisis caused by the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and employee attrition. But today, earnings pressures and economic uncertainty place cost solidly front and center at most companies. Paul Goydan, global leader of BCG’s Accelerated Cost Advantage program, arms these leaders with insights and approaches, exploring everything from how AI can uncover waste to finding promising places to reinvest the savings.  Learn More: Cost Management: On.bcg.com/49xIABZ  What Leaders Are Saying About Costs and Growth in 2024: On.bcg.com/3OCEDDV Imagine This...:https://link.chtbl.com/imagine-this-show-link This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Most companies have no idea how many of their employees live with a disability. Most organizations report 4-7%, but BCG research says it’s much higher—25%. And that percentage is only going to climb as the workforce ages. Brad Loftus and Hillary Wool are both high-performing consultants who live with disabilities. They discuss why companies are so misinformed and explore how leaders can provide reasonable and cost-effective accommodations—and increase inclusion and retention.     Learn More: Your Workforce Includes People with Disabilities. Does Your People Strategy?:https://on.bcg.com/3vQm7Sb This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In implementing generative AI, companies are paying too much attention to the algorithms and not enough to the human element. How well are workers equipped to use it—and use it responsibly? Allison Bailey, global leader for BCG’s people and organization practice, discusses the need for upskilling and reskilling in not just technology, but also being adaptive, creative, and collaborative. Businesses must also train their employees to incorporate AI into their daily routine—and learn when the risks are not worth it.  Learn More: From Potential to Profit with GenAI: https://on.bcg.com/4b1Bp6A This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In this special episode of The So What from BCG, human and AI intelligence come together. Join BCG’s Global Chair Rich Lesser, and GENE, BCG’s new GenAI conversational agent, for a wide-ranging exploration of the CEO agenda as world leaders gather at Davos. Rich and GENE discuss the transformative power of generative AI technology, the urgency of climate action, and the critical need for trust in an era of innovation.If you’re invested in the future of business and society, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. To learn more about BCG at Davos, visit https://www.bcg.com/about/partner-ecosystem/world-economic-forum/davos. To hear more of GENE, listen at https://link.chtbl.com/bcg-genai-on-genai?sid=tsw.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Time is a finite resource. What is the best way to spend it? Bob Sulentic, CEO of the multibillion-dollar company CBRE explains why he deliberately leaves hours of his workday open for thinking, reading, and being available to his direct reports. That approach may not work for all CEOs. What’s important, explains BCG’s Jeff Hill, is that CEOs spend time thinking about time. An unexamined calendar is a missed opportunity to become a more effective leader.   Learn More: For CEOs, It’s About Time: https://on.bcg.com/41ICUTf Jeff Hill: https://on.bcg.com/4anotrx Bob Sulentic: https://www.cbre.com/people/bob-sulentic This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

As 2023 ends, people look to the new year to become the best version of themselves. Sreyssha George, an expert in technology and people for BCG, explains how to build your personal brand by choosing a role model, asking for feedback, and being open to change. Learn More: Sreyssha George: https://on.bcg.com/472Hqgn This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The human brain is constantly making associations between events, objects, and memories. David Ratajczak, global leader of BCG’s marketing practice, says companies can rely on this deep psychology to create positive associations with their brand. Campaigns no longer exist solely in big media where only large, established companies could afford them. Startups and small businesses can win mindshare against industry giants by investing in precision digital technology that takes advantage of these associations.      Learn More:Digital Marketing: https://on.bcg.com/3GzAe04Capturing Mind Share with Precision Branding: https://on.bcg.com/3T6jMw0This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A promising $19 trillion has been put toward the energy transition. The bad news? We need $18 trillion more—and that’s just to reach 2030 goals. As the world gears up for COP28, the UN’s climate conference, Maurice Berns, chair of BCG’s Center for Energy Impact, explores how to close this gap.     Learn More: Climate Vision 2050: Climate Vision 2050 (chtbl.com)Energy Transition: https://on.bcg.com/3RkyP40 Bridging the $18 Trillion Gap in Net Zero Capital: https://on.bcg.com/3R0Ki7b A Blueprint for the Energy Transition: https://on.bcg.com/46uEvg4 This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Ahead of COP28, the UN’s climate conference, we explore the unique ways public-private partnerships help achieve sustainability goals. Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, CEO of Novo Nordisk; Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca; and Christine O’Brien, lead for BCG’s climate and sustainability practice in health care, discuss the projects and success of the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force. The Task Force brings together global health leaders to enhance individual, societal, and planetary health. Together, they have launched sector-first commitments, actions, and recommendations to accelerate the delivery of net zero, patient-centric health systems. Learn More: https://www.sustainable-markets.org/taskforces/health-systems-taskforce/  For more about Pascal: https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-company/leadership.html#For more about Lars: https://www.novonordisk.com/about/executive-management/lars-fruergaard-jorgensen.htmlFor more about Christine: https://on.bcg.com/3R9xbSJ)https://on.bcg.com/47KDWQpThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

It’s 2050 and we’re exploring how the world radically reduced carbon emissions and saved itself from climate catastrophe. What have our cities done to accommodate massive population growth? And how do businesses, governments, researchers and everyday people work together to build sustainable supply chains, agricultural practices and transportation infrastructure?This is Climate Vision 2050, a podcast series from BCG.In this episode, Nairobi’s green tech and innovation boom make it a 2050 powerhouse. That success comes with climate challenges that the city is addressing. Urban planner Bailey Muthoni lives in housing built from plastic waste and gets around on an electric motorbike. She stages a tactical urbanism intervention advocating for improved walkability around the city's parliament.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

We are closing in on the first anniversary of the public release of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and GPT-4. And yet the ever-changing field of human-machine collaboration remains poorly understood. François Candelon, global director of the BCG Henderson Institute, explains the findings of recent research that explores where AI work is more effective than people and where it isn’t.  Learn More:  https://on.bcg.com/3Sszzos https://on.bcg.com/3u3jUBV This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Downtowns were built for a 9-5 world that no longer exists. Santiago Ferrer, BCG’s North American lead for cities, real estate, and infrastructure development, says civic leaders have an opportunity and responsibility to rethink the best use of buildings, transportation systems, and other infrastructure.    Learn More:  https://on.bcg.com/46FFo6s https://on.bcg.com/471A6lj This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

A price is an expression of value and part of a conversation with customers. Jean-Manuel Izaret, BCG’s global leader of pricing, discusses the importance of designing a pricing strategy that creates value for customers and companies alike. Businesses must know when to leave money on the table and be careful to avoid prices so high they actually hamper sales. Jean-Manuel highlights seven pricing games companies should consider playing and other lessons to build pricing strategy from his new book, Game Changer.Learn More:https://on.bcg.com/3RT5A8ZThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Should the workplace of the future consist of a mostly in-office, remote, or hybrid model? Deborah Lovich, leader of BCG’s work on people strategy, argues we’re asking the wrong question entirely. Organizations should focus on creating productivity for themselves and joy for their employees. It will take more than a memo from the top to create this new working model. Time, resources, and strong managers are all necessary.   This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In 2015, the UN established Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030. In 2023, we are halfway there and have achieved only about 12% of those goals. Rich Hutchinson, global leader of BCG’s Social Impact practice, suggests that companies both can help achieve those goals and boost their bottom line. Organizations need to set ambitious goals. Leaders need to do more than treat ESG as a checklist. And governments can also provide incentives that encourage private sector innovation.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Cost-cutting gets a bad rap, but the exercise is actually an opportunity to find money that can be reinvested in the business. Mark Austin, BCG’s global topic leader of cost and zero-based transformation, challenges executives to create more efficient and effective operating models by empowering employees to find areas of unnecessary spending in places that may not be obvious. They can then look to their people and their industry to find the most effective ways to funnel that money back into the organization.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

As the school year approaches, we are reaching into The So What from BCG archives. Join us as we revisit our examination of why education remains rooted in a bygone era of neat orderly rows of desks and lesson plans, even as the world races ahead into the metaverse and beyond. In this wide-ranging conversation first published in June 2022, Leila Hoteit, managing director and senior partner who leads BCG’s education, employment, and welfare work, argues for a lifelong approach to learning inside and outside the classroom—one that teaches people to solve hard problems and develop soft skills.She talks about why students should think about the fairytale “Little Red Riding Hood” from the perspective of the wolf, how the technology that treats autism can help others learn better, and why people from different cultures may come up with different answers to the famous trolley problem.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

How do the top 5% of companies ascend to their spots—and stay there? Extensive BCG research shows that they excel in six areas, among them: focusing on a clear vision, remaining agile, and creating a solid, yet flexible tech base. A leader of that research, Romain de Laubier, shares insights from working alongside executives and helping them take an honest look at what their companies do well—and what could be improved. Also the global leader of digital strategy and AI work at BCG, he highlights some of the key findings from the Build for the Future research.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Jessica Apotheker, chief marketing officer of BCG and BCGX, and Akbar Hamid, co-founder of People of Crypto Lab, explain how the metaverse can combine the best of the physical and virtual worlds to create a seamless immersive experience—or amplify what’s wrong in the physical world.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

AI is evolving daily, challenging businesses to adjust and adapt. Vladimir Lukic, global leader of BCG’s Tech & Digital Advantage practice, demystifies what companies need to get right when implementing AI. A shift in mindset can go a long way toward unlocking AI’s potential.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Leaders frequently talk about purpose and vision. Too often, these concepts get stuck at the top and do not cascade down throughout the organization. BCG’s David Ritter explains how organizations can unlock latent productivity and creativity by connecting purpose and vision to the day-to-day work of teams.   This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Customers are demanding speed and convenience in their interactions with companies. Technology, especially artificial intelligence, is often better at meeting customer needs than humans. Karen Lellouche Tordjman, leader of BCG’s customer experience work, explains how companies can combine technology and humans to create the most compelling customer journeys and touchpoints.   This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

The post–World War II order of free markets, democratic government, and global institutions is breaking apart, argues Nikolaus Lang, who leads BCG’s Global Advantage practice. With the future uncertain, companies should prepare for a range of scenarios that likely involve greater uncertainty and less global trade.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Sylvain Duranton helps companies build AI-enabled businesses. As the the global leader of BCG X, he has a front row seat to the generative AI revolution. He discusses the industries likely to face the most disruption, the future of work, and how generative AI can help solve challenges in climate and health. His advice to companies unsure how to get started? Pick a difference-making opportunity; invest adequately; upskill your people; and rethink processes to accommodate generative AI.  (Read more about the risk and reward of generative AI https://www.bcg.com/x/artificial-intelligence/generative-ai.) This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

CEOs generally face either economic uncertainty (the Great Recession) or great change (the digital-driven era preceding the pandemic). Today’s leaders are facing both at the same time, explains Rich Lesser, BCG’s chair. While uncertainty requires resilience, change requires evolution. It’s hard to do both. Nonetheless, Lesser sees great potential with the advances in AI but also physical technologies such as synthetic biology. He shares insights from his own discussions with CEOs as well as from BCG's recent survey of nearly 800 global C-suite executives across all industries, CEO Outlook 2023: Caution, Optimism, and Navigating the Road Ahead.This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Companies and banks have often pursued social goals such as financial inclusion as an obligation rather than a business opportunity. Douglas Beal, who leads BCG’s client work with financial institutions on sustainable finance and investing, argues that doing good is also good business. Companies and banks can build profitable, sustainable social business and improve their bottom lines.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Financial crime has become big business. The United Nations estimates that 2%–5% of global GDP is laundering every year. If businesses—all businesses, not just banks—are not part of the solution, they are part of the problem, argues BCG’s Hanjo Seibert. Over the past ten years, half of all fines levied in financial crime cases have been regular businesses. Beyond satisfying their legal obligations, businesses can reap other benefits, such as more intimate knowledge of their customers and suppliers. In other words, compliance is good for business.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

In Indonesia, consumers began mixing together several orders of McDonald’s soft serve ice cream into a dessert mashup. Videos of this quirky development quickly went viral, and the trend spread to Thailand. Rather than worry about losing control over its carefully crafted image, McDonald’s encouraged the activity by creating an online video ad campaign around their customers’ videos. Welcome to the crazy world of shoppertainment, which BCG projects will grow into a $1 trillion market in Asia by 2025.  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacyThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy