Business, Management, Marketing, Money, Tax, Law, People

A topic that matters more than ever, and yet is debated more than ever Sustainability matters now more than ever—the increasing need for an urgent step-up in action to meet key climate goals was a common refrain around COP29. Three illustrative facts were often cited: This is the first year we are on track to exceed 1.5 degrees. The costs of climate change are already piling up, global insurance losses…

The emergence of new technologies and geopolitical changes are disrupting industries around the world. Corporations are rethinking how to create value for their customers—whether they are serving other businesses (B2B), consumers (B2C), or both (B2B2C)—and how to rewire their business operations to focus on customer needs. Legacy automotive companies are having to find ways to compete with electric-vehicle disruptors, banks are competing with fintech companies, and consumer goods companies are…

The world’s largest companies increasingly recognize the risks and opportunities presented by nature and natural capital. This awareness is driving more businesses to set specific targets to address their impact on water, biodiversity, forests, and other dimensions of nature. The unprecedented decline of nature and biodiversity underscores the urgency of these commitments. Of the nine planetary boundaries proposed by scientists in 2009 to define a “safe operating space for humanity,”…

In today’s business landscape, organizations face unprecedented levels of change and complexity. Markets shift overnight, new technologies emerge daily, and customer expectations evolve rapidly. This volatile environment demands that organizations adapt quickly, innovate continuously, and respond decisively to new challenges and opportunities. Companies aiming for significant performance improvements may have tried top-down or bottom-up approaches to transformation—either relying on senior management alone or on programs that seek to change employee mindsets.…

Africa’s fintech landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years, characterized by rapid growth and innovation. Despite significant headwinds, the market remains one of the most dynamic and promising in the world, with notable optimism among fintech leaders and investors. Key fintech players we interviewed indicated they were excited about opportunities across Africa, as reflected by our optimism survey, on which they returned an average score of 4.5, where…

As the suite of technology tools at companies’ fingertips continues its exponential growth, so does the demand for technology’s role in business. Tech transformations are not singular events but rather a constant reality of corporate life. According to our latest McKinsey Global Survey of technology and business leaders, most companies are investing in tech with future growth in mind, and they’re seeing positive results from the transformation work they’ve already done. At…

Throughout his 40-year career, Nathan Bostock has seen the financial services industry change in big ways—and has used these changes to his advantage to usher in the next era of banking. He has led multiple full-scale transformations across several companies, including during his tenure as CFO and CEO of Santander UK and during his time as chief risk officer and CFO of the Royal Bank of Scotland. In this episode…

Like many industries, the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry is facing challenges on several fronts: volatile commodity markets driving higher cost inflation, geopolitical instability causing supply chain disruptions, competition for construction talent and labor in certain geographies such as North America, and increasing pressure to accelerate bringing new production online. Capital expenditure (capex) is rising as a result, calling for cost optimization and innovation in capital deployment…

The healthcare industry has been buffeted by a growing number of challenges over the past few years. This turbulence struck provider organizations in 2022, while payers were initially sheltered from the storm (Exhibit 1). But conditions became more difficult for payers in 2023, which has continued into this year, and there’s limited respite on the horizon. Unlike the widespread challenges the provider and payer sectors have faced, the picture for…

Unexpected crises, volatility, and a generally accelerated pace of change have increasingly become the norm. But it doesn’t feel normal. For many, it feels stressful and exhausting. Think of all the very large disruptions on leaders’ agendas these days—widespread use of automation, artificial intelligence, and other technologies at work; geopolitical and global economic shifts; impacts from climate change; genomic editing and other scientific and bioengineering innovations; social justice trends; and…