Today we tackle the topic of decision making in the boardroom. What has the pandemic taught board directors about making high-consequence, low-probability decisions? You’ll hear Frithjof Lund, the leader of our board services work, leading a discussion with three experts. Aaron De Smet, who helps organizations improve their performance and agility, and senior expert Leigh Weiss are co-authors of a recent article about decision making in uncertain times. Suzanne Nimocks is a director on the boards of ArcelorMittal, Owens Corning, Ovintiv (formerly Encana) and Valaris (formerly Ensco Rowan), as well as a former senior McKinsey partner. We hope you enjoy the discussion. Discover our latest insights and join more than 90,000 influential professionals who are part of our LinkedIn community.: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/ See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

77. Boards and decision making

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.

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In today's episode, we delve into practical strategies that organizations can implement to effectively manage and adapt during times of uncertainty.
We explore a range of approaches, including scenario planning, risk management, cultivating leadership skills, and leveraging technology. Our guests also underscore the critical need for agility and swift decision-making when facing unpredictable conditions. 

We are joined by McKinsey senior advisor Rear Admiral Wyman Howard III (ret.), Mihir Mysore, a partner in our Houston office who founded and leads our Crisis Response and Resilience Practices globally, Alex Panas, a senior partner in our Boston office who co-leads our Advanced Industries Practice, and Gregory D. Smith, Chairman of American Airlines.  

Related reading 
How to manage in uncertainty Discover our latest insights and join more than 90,000 influential professionals who are part of our LinkedIn community.: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/ See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

207. Preparing your organization for uncertainty

We are excited to present a special bonus episode of the Deal Volume podcast, which is produced by our Private Capital Practice. 

Our guest host for this episode is Brian Vickery, a partner in the practice who is joined by the practice's leaders, senior partners Fredrik Dahlqvist and David Quigley, to discuss key insights from the 2024 edition of our Global Private Markets Review. We hope you enjoy this discussion on the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the private capital landscape.

Related insights:
McKinsey Global Private Markets Review 2024: Private markets in a slower era
Listen to the Deal Volume podcast Discover our latest insights and join more than 90,000 influential professionals who are part of our LinkedIn community.: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/ See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Bonus: Deal Volume - Perspectives on a slower era in private markets

Today’s discussion covers several topics from our recent report on top M&A; trends. We’re joined by senior partners Jake Henry and Mieke Van Oostende, who co-lead our M&A; work globally, and senior partners Michael Birshan and Andy West, who co-lead our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice.
We discuss the changing landscape of M&A;, the shift from consolidation to growth and capability building, the importance of integration planning, the role of private equity, and the impact of regulatory review cycles. We also touch upon the concept of 'transact to transform' and the increasing trend of alliances and joint ventures.

Related reading
Top M&A; trends in 2024: Blueprint for success in the next wave of deals
Gen AI: Opportunities in M&A; Discover our latest insights and join more than 90,000 influential professionals who are part of our LinkedIn community.: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/ See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

206. Are you ready for a surge in M&A?

The need for board-level strategic conversations on geopolitical risk is urgent. To discuss how boards can guide companies through an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, we’re joined by Jon Huntsman Jr. Jon is a former US governor and diplomat who has spent nearly two decades in US public service at the state, national, and international levels. He sits on the boards of Ford, Mobileye, and Chevron, and is also the Vice Chairman of MasterCard. We're also joined by Ziad Haider, a partner in our Singapore office who co-leads our Geopolitics Practice, and Celia Huber, a senior partner in our Bay Area location who leads our North American Board Services Practice.

Further reading:
Black swans, gray rhinos, and silver linings: Anticipating geopolitical risks (and openings) 

How global companies can manage geopolitical risk 
Boards can guide companies through geopolitical headwinds
Geopolitical resilience: The new board imperative 
How three global companies navigate geopolitical risk to build resilience Discover our latest insights and join more than 90,000 influential professionals who are part of our LinkedIn community.: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/ See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

205. Helping boards manage geopolitical risk with Jon Huntsman Jr.

Midcap companies have vast opportunities to increase their performance and scale if they reinvent how they work. 

Midsize companies don’t dominate the headlines and investor attention the way large corporations do, but they represent more than 40 percent of the global workforce and account for approximately one-third of most economies’ GDP. 

However, the productivity of small and midsize businesses is only half that of large companies, and lower in emerging economies. These businesses have vast opportunities to increase their performance and scale.
In this episode, we discuss how midcaps can seize the opportunity to transform themselves and reach a significantly higher level of performance.
Joining us are Zakir Gaibi, a senior partner in McKinsey’s Johannesburg office, Mauricio Janauskas a senior partner in the Santiago office, and Kedar Naik is a partner in the Brussels office. You can read their article Unleashing the power of midcap companies on McKinsey.com
Join the McKinsey Transformation community on LinkedIn. Discover our latest insights and join more than 90,000 influential professionals who are part of our LinkedIn community.: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/ See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

77. Boards and decision making

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