In this Global Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, Petra Schmidt and Derry Pickford reframe inflation from a cost challenge to a leadership test — one that is shaping how organizations allocate capital, price risk and position for growth.

They move beyond nearterm pressures to examine inflation as a persistent force influencing strategic decisions across pricing, supply chains and investment. The conversation centers on how leading businesses are building the capabilities to act in real time — bringing together data, discipline and scenario-planning to make better decisions in an unpredictable environment.

Rather than reacting to shifting conditions, Petra and Derry outline what it takes to stay ahead: embedding flexibility into operations, strengthening analytical capabilities and making deliberate tradeoffs that protect margin while positioning for longterm opportunity.

Key Takeaways:   

Experts in this episode:    

Key Moments:   

(01:30) What is structurally different about today’s inflation environment — and why recent shocks may be less severe but more frequent

(03:40) How organizations are responding in practice, from dynamic pricing and cost control to supply chain redesign and advanced analytics

(11:30) Why resilience is now a core capability — not a one-time initiative — and how leading organizations are building for continuous change

Soundbites:   

Petra Schmidt:  

“In an inflationary environment, resilience is not a project, it's a capability. So, inflation and volatility are no longer short-term disruptions. Companies should design operations assuming uncertainty will continue. Success is not about perfectly forecasting costs. It comes from continuously adapting. What we're seeing winning companies doing.”

Derry Pickford:  

“The only thing I'd add is that economists are fallible and if there's one thing that we can be sure on is that forecasts will be wrong. So I really think it's completely essential that companies take the measures that you suggested so that they are as resilient as possible when we get those inevitable surprises.”