Forward Thinking

By McKinsey Global Institute

What's Forward Thinking about?

Forward Thinking examines groundbreaking ways in which the world is evolving and how people and organizations can respond to changing demands and technologies. In each episode theorists, innovators, and business leaders discuss global trends—technology, artificial intelligence, globalization, urbanization, climate change, and more—with hosts Michael Chui and Janet Bush of the McKinsey Global Institute.

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Forward Thinking episodes:

04.15.2024
What’s the future for cities in the postpandemic world?
Co-host Janet Bush talks with Ed Glaeser, the Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics and the chairman of the Department of Economics at Harvard University. His latest book, coauthored with health economist David Cutler, is Survival of the city:...
01.24.2024
Forward Thinking on Europe’s existential crisis with Marco Buti
Marco Buti and Janet Bush discuss Europe’s competitiveness.
12.05.2023
Forward Thinking on the tricky business of removing carbon from our world with Nan Ransohoff
A leading market maker for investment in carbon removal believes that tackling climate change has to be done quickly, but that the problem is tractable. Doom-laden thinking has gone too far.
11.14.2023
Forward Thinking on how geeks are changing the world with Andrew McAfee
One of the world’s tech scholars talks geeks, two-pizza teams, the 90 percent syndrome and a whole lot more.
11.01.2023
Forward Thinking on why we ignore inflation—from ancient times to the present—at our peril with Stephen King
“We need to talk about inflation. It’s unfair. It’s not democratic, It’s a terrible thing to unleash on society. And I think many of us have forgotten what damage it can do,” says a leading British economist.
10.11.2023
Forward Thinking on the existential issues facing the middle classes in every country with Homi Kharas
Historically, the middle class has always tried to avoid change and to reduce levels of uncertainty, but it now has to embrace change and write itself a new narrative, says a leading economist.
09.05.2023
Forward Thinking on funding a clean world with Ann Mettler
A leader on funding Europe’s energy transition talks about the three Ss that are necessary: speed, scale, and simplicity.
08.15.2023
Forward Thinking on the recipe for Asia’s success story with Justin Yifu Lin
Asia’s economies will continue to have momentum “because when we know the secret, we are not going to give up that enlightenment” says influential Chinese economist Justin Yifu Lin.
07.26.2023
Forward Thinking on how to live with our longer lives with Andrew J. Scott
A British economist talks about longevity and how we can adapt to living for longer.
07.12.2023
Forward Thinking on avoiding another false dawn for Africa and finally seizing the continent’s potential with Carlos Lopes
A leading African development economist talks about his belief in pan-Africanism and multilateralism.
06.28.2023
Forward Thinking on bringing the joy to economics with Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers
Two University of Michigan professors talk about their highly relevant—joyous—take on economics.
05.31.2023
Forward Thinking on the brave new world of generative AI with Ethan Mollick
On the MGI podcast, professor Ethan Mollick covers what generative AI means for the future of work, worker performance, education, and more.
05.17.2023
Forward Thinking on the rollercoaster of central banking with Hans-Helmut Kotz
In this episode of Forward Thinking, economist Hans-Helmut Kotz discusses parallels between the global financial crisis and today’s financial turbulence.
04.19.2023
Forward Thinking on people on the move and the technological progress and productivity they bring with Dany Bahar
On the Forward Thinking podcast, economist Dany Bahar talks about why migration could be the key why some countries are rich and some are poor.
03.22.2023
Forward Thinking on ‘megathreats,’ ‘polycrises,’ and ‘doom loops’ with Nouriel Roubini
Economist Nouriel Roubini joins the podcast to talk about global megathreats, including economic, geopolitical, and globalization-related risks.
03.01.2023
Forward Thinking on working at the interface of the environment and business with Justin Adams
In this podcast episode, Justin Adams explores sustainability investment and the role capitalism can play in addressing issues around sustainability.
02.15.2023
Forward Thinking on what deep history might tell us about today’s turbulent times with Alan Taylor
In this podcast, economist Alan Taylor covers how history can provide a lens into trends in globalization and wealth and the long-term impact of pandemics.
02.01.2023
Forward Thinking on how to get remote working right with Nicholas Bloom
“There’s a lot of scare stories in the media saying hybrid doesn’t work,” says a leading economist. “My one piece of advice is just be intentional, be organized. Basically, get folks in on two, three days a week … and...
01.19.2023
Forward Thinking on the complicated and contentious state of global trade with Chad P. Bown
“This is certainly the most exciting, contentious, uncertain time when it when it comes to trade policy, certainly in my lifetime,” says a leading trade economist.
11.30.2022
Forward Thinking on the meeting point of science and humanity with Jayshree Seth
Persuaded by her parents to study science and engineering, Jayshree Seth retained her humanities mindset while becoming the first chief science advocate at the 3M company.
11.16.2022
Forward Thinking on the fragility of the world’s food systems and how to fix them with Jessica Fanzo
Many people think that hunger and climate change happen to poor people in faraway countries and won’t affect them, says a leading food systems expert. “But that is a naïve perception of the world.”
09.28.2022
Forward Thinking on talent, state capacity, and being hopeful with Tyler Cowen
A prominent economist, author, podcaster, and talent investor discusses how to better match human talent to opportunities, de-bureaucratize philanthropy, achieve higher-quality governance, identify fields of likely progress, and how to get it all done.
08.10.2022
Forward Thinking on progress in science funding, immigration, and biosecurity with Alec Stapp
The co-founder and co-CEO of a new think tank, the Institute for Progress, talks about its mission to accelerate scientific, technological, and industrial progress while safeguarding the future of humanity.
07.27.2022
Forward Thinking on the sustainability revolution in textiles and the fashion industry with Edwin Keh
The leader of a cutting-edge institute talks about innovative new materials that “eat” carbon and may enable cotton growing without irrigation, as well as the potential for building the world’s shortest supply chain in two 40-foot containers.
07.13.2022
Forward Thinking on people, places, and the revenge of places that don’t matter with Andrés Rodríguez-Pose
A leading economic geographer talks regional growth and inequality, discontent and populism, innovation, migration, and development policies and strategies.
06.29.2022
Forward Thinking on war in Ukraine, inflation, and cooperation in a fractured world with Jean Pisani-Ferry
An eminent European economist discusses the economic challenges arising from the war in Ukraine, the spreading economic turbulence, and the need to work together to nurture global public goods.
$Forward Thinking on war in Ukraine, inflation, and cooperation in a fractured world with Jean Pisani-Ferry$
06.01.2022
Forward Thinking on measuring the value of the digital age with Avinash Collis
Born in India and now a professor in Texas, Avinash Collis talks about his work on creating a data dashboard that will enable us to measure the true value of the digital age.
05.18.2022
Forward Thinking on trade, vaccines, and sustainable and inclusive growth with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
The WTO’s first African—and first female—director-general reflects on the impact of the pandemic on trade, the imperative to ensure that vaccines reach Africa and other emerging economies, and how to ensure that trade is more inclusive.
05.04.2022
Forward Thinking on democratizing technology with Anne-Marie Imafidon
In a rallying call for inclusion in a technologically driven world, Imafidon talks about persistent bias in data collection and algorithms that are making very big decisions that affect large parts of people’s lives.
04.20.2022
Forward Thinking on the growing role of business in the net-zero transition with Claire O’Neill
The former British politician who led the United Kingdom’s winning bid to host COP26 is now focused on coordinating an effective business contribution to the net-zero transition.
04.06.2022
Forward Thinking on tech and the unpredictability of prediction with Benedict Evans
One of the tech world’s sharpest analysts talks about the frontier and how we got here, connecting the metaverse, Web3, and crypto with everyone from industrialist Henry Ford to writer Voltaire to historian Hugh Trevor-Roper.
03.23.2022
Forward Thinking on sustainable and inclusive growth with Ron O’Hanley
A leading US financier discusses the route to carbon neutrality, what the pandemic taught us about resiliency, and the true meaning of stakeholder capitalism.
02.23.2022
Forward Thinking on pandemic paradoxes, labor market myths, and ‘cowboy capitalism’ with David Autor
A leading US economist talks about what has changed in the pandemic, the rise of China, the globalization of trade, and spreading automation.
02.02.2022
Forward Thinking on the social contract in a postpandemic world with Minouche Shafik and Andrew Sheng
While there is risk, of not executing on it, there is a bottom-line opportunity for the individual, for the firms, and for the states that are willing to reimagine the contract.
01.12.2022
Forward Thinking on the transformative role of intangible assets in companies and economies with Jonathan Haskel and Stian Westlake
Intangible capital is about what makes us human. It’s about ideas, relationships, expressiveness. It is about making those things that matter to us as humans more central to our thriving.
12.15.2021
Forward Thinking on globalization and the evolving role of corporate leadership in the 21st century with Matthew Slaughter
A leading economist and business school dean reflects on globalization, concluding that a lot of us underestimated the possible magnitude of distribution pressures from freer trade and immigration and flows of capital.
12.01.2021
Forward Thinking on the enduring power of engineering in a digitizing world with Hayaatun Sillem
The first female CEO of the United Kingdom’s Royal Academy of Engineering reflects on the evolving role of engineering in a dematerializing world, its vital role in science and sustainability—and collaborating with a Formula One world champion.
11.17.2021
Forward Thinking on making labor markets work smarter—for people and companies—with Beth Cobert and Byron Auguste
Two US leaders focused on developing a more skills-based labor market explore ways to broaden opportunity for workers while helping companies to plug talent gaps.
10.20.2021
Forward Thinking on pandemic preparedness, climate risk, and Europe’s recovery with Guntram Wolff
The director of one of Europe’s most influential think tanks reflects on how to better prepare for the next pandemic, and turns his attention to the challenges of postpandemic economic recovery in an era of rising climate risk.
10.06.2021
Forward Thinking on economies beyond COVID-19 with Michael Spence
A Nobel laureate explains why his cautious optimism about the economic recovery has been replaced by concern related to the slow vaccine rollout in lower-income economies, fragile supply chains, and extreme weather events.
09.22.2021
From fighter pilot to robotics pioneer: An interview with Missy Cummings
One of the U.S. Navy’s first female fighter pilots, the engineering and robotics professor talks about the promise and peril of automation in airplanes and cars.
08.25.2021
[Introducing] Inside the strategy room: A conversation with Brian Chesky of Airbnb on the 21st century corporation
Presenting a special episode from our friends at Inside the Strategy Room: Airbnb’s CEO discusses how a company that flirted with demise during the pandemic turned its business around.
08.11.2021
How Hamilton stayed alive during the pandemic: An interview with producer Jeffrey Seller
Jeffrey Seller, producer of Broadway hits Hamilton, In the Heights, Rent, and more, describes shutting down production, pivoting to digital streaming, staging a production in Australia, and reopening six companies of Hamilton in a month.
07.28.2021
Forward Thinking on economic recovery and gender equality with Laura Tyson
In addition to the moral argument, the former White House economic adviser explains that gender diversity is “a matter of human capital. It’s a matter of talent. It’s a matter of the evidence mounting over time.”
07.14.2021
Forward Thinking on technology and political economy with Daron Acemoglu
The influential economist connects the dots between artificial intelligence, productivity, wages, and inequality, and how to counterbalance the impacts of automation.
06.23.2021
Forward Thinking on China and artificial intelligence with Jeffrey Ding
Guest Jeffrey Ding, researcher and founder of the ChinAI newsletter, discusses information asymmetry in AI between China and the West; the Chinese industry adage on products, platforms, and standards; “unsexy AI” and more.
06.09.2021
Forward Thinking on artificial intelligence with Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott
What will artificial intelligence mean for jobs in rural America? Kevin Scott, Microsoft’s chief technology officer makes the case for harnessing AI to create new opportunities outside of the big urban tech centers.
05.26.2021
Forward Thinking on measuring GDP and productivity with Diane Coyle
Diane Coyle discusses her research on the digital economy, its impact on productivity, and what’s left out of the analysis when we focus only on GDP as a measurement of growth.
05.12.2021
Programming life: An interview with Jennifer Doudna
The co-discoverer of CRISPR-Cas9 speaks with MGI partner Michael Chui about the joy of scientific discovery and what the future holds for the Bio Revolution.
05.12.2021
Forward Thinking on the Bio Revolution with Jason Kelly and Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath
The leaders of Gingko Bioworks and the BIO organization discuss the future of biological technologies, from developing vaccines faster to changing how we produce food.

What's Forward Thinking about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Forward Thinking episodes:

What’s the future for cities in the postpandemic world?

Forward Thinking on Europe’s existential crisis with Marco Buti

Forward Thinking on the tricky business of removing carbon from our world with Nan Ransohoff

Forward Thinking on how geeks are changing the world with Andrew McAfee

Forward Thinking on why we ignore inflation—from ancient times to the present—at our peril with Stephen King

Forward Thinking on the existential issues facing the middle classes in every country with Homi Kharas

Forward Thinking on funding a clean world with Ann Mettler

Forward Thinking on the recipe for Asia’s success story with Justin Yifu Lin

Forward Thinking on how to live with our longer lives with Andrew J. Scott

Forward Thinking on avoiding another false dawn for Africa and finally seizing the continent’s potential with Carlos Lopes

Forward Thinking on bringing the joy to economics with Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers

Forward Thinking on the brave new world of generative AI with Ethan Mollick

Forward Thinking on the rollercoaster of central banking with Hans-Helmut Kotz

Forward Thinking on people on the move and the technological progress and productivity they bring with Dany Bahar

Forward Thinking on ‘megathreats,’ ‘polycrises,’ and ‘doom loops’ with Nouriel Roubini

Forward Thinking on working at the interface of the environment and business with Justin Adams

Forward Thinking on what deep history might tell us about today’s turbulent times with Alan Taylor

Forward Thinking on how to get remote working right with Nicholas Bloom

Forward Thinking on the complicated and contentious state of global trade with Chad P. Bown

Forward Thinking on the meeting point of science and humanity with Jayshree Seth

Forward Thinking on the fragility of the world’s food systems and how to fix them with Jessica Fanzo

Forward Thinking on talent, state capacity, and being hopeful with Tyler Cowen

Forward Thinking on progress in science funding, immigration, and biosecurity with Alec Stapp

Forward Thinking on the sustainability revolution in textiles and the fashion industry with Edwin Keh

Forward Thinking on people, places, and the revenge of places that don’t matter with Andrés Rodríguez-Pose

Forward Thinking on war in Ukraine, inflation, and cooperation in a fractured world with Jean Pisani-Ferry

Forward Thinking on measuring the value of the digital age with Avinash Collis

Forward Thinking on trade, vaccines, and sustainable and inclusive growth with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Forward Thinking on democratizing technology with Anne-Marie Imafidon

Forward Thinking on the growing role of business in the net-zero transition with Claire O’Neill

Forward Thinking on tech and the unpredictability of prediction with Benedict Evans

Forward Thinking on sustainable and inclusive growth with Ron O’Hanley

Forward Thinking on pandemic paradoxes, labor market myths, and ‘cowboy capitalism’ with David Autor

Forward Thinking on the social contract in a postpandemic world with Minouche Shafik and Andrew Sheng

Forward Thinking on the transformative role of intangible assets in companies and economies with Jonathan Haskel and Stian Westlake

Forward Thinking on globalization and the evolving role of corporate leadership in the 21st century with Matthew Slaughter

Forward Thinking on the enduring power of engineering in a digitizing world with Hayaatun Sillem

Forward Thinking on making labor markets work smarter—for people and companies—with Beth Cobert and Byron Auguste

Forward Thinking on pandemic preparedness, climate risk, and Europe’s recovery with Guntram Wolff

Forward Thinking on economies beyond COVID-19 with Michael Spence

From fighter pilot to robotics pioneer: An interview with Missy Cummings

[Introducing] Inside the strategy room: A conversation with Brian Chesky of Airbnb on the 21st century corporation

How Hamilton stayed alive during the pandemic: An interview with producer Jeffrey Seller

Forward Thinking on economic recovery and gender equality with Laura Tyson

Forward Thinking on technology and political economy with Daron Acemoglu

Forward Thinking on China and artificial intelligence with Jeffrey Ding

Forward Thinking on artificial intelligence with Microsoft CTO Kevin Scott

Forward Thinking on measuring GDP and productivity with Diane Coyle

Programming life: An interview with Jennifer Doudna

Forward Thinking on the Bio Revolution with Jason Kelly and Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath