Divestiture is one of the least discussed aspects of M&A, and yet separations can be a highly effective way of creating value. In this week’s episode, Sean speaks with two McKinsey experts on separations and spin-offs about their latest research on the subject. Jamie Koenig coleads our separations and spin-off client work globally and is a partner in our New York office. He has more than a decade of experience helping clients navigate complex transactions, having worked on hundreds of deals, and has a particular passion for building new companies via spin-offs. Anna Mattsson is the global co-lead of our separations and spin-offs client service line. She is a partner in our Zurich office and has 20 years of experience helping clients deliver value through M&A, divestitures, and spin-offs. The two are co-authors of our recent article on separations.Related insights When separating businesses, people are the key to unleashing value The cost of (un)doing businessWhy speed matters in divestitures What it takes to make separations a competitive difference-maker M&A Annual Report: Is the wave finally arriving? Active portfolio management: Five practical insights for value creation The equity story you need for the long-term investors you want McKinsey Insights on M&A McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedInSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
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263. How Strategy Champions win
In this episode, Sean talks with four strategy experts who share the findings of their new research into the practices that separate companies that succeed at building and executing an excellent strategy from those that do not. You can read more about their research in the new McKinsey Quarterly article titled, How Strategy Champions win. Alex D'Amico co-leads our strategy work globally and leads it in North America. He is a senior partner in our Connecticut office where he helps companies across industries shape enterprise strategy, undertake cultural transformations, rapidly boost performance, and redesign organizations to sustain results. Alejandro Krell co-leads our strategy work globally with Alex and leads our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice in Latin America. He is a senior partner in our Panama City office where he advises companies across the financial services, manufacturing, mining, retail, and telecom sectors on addressing strategic challenges and making lasting performance improvements. Semyon Yakovlev leads our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice across Asia and is a senior partner in our Seoul office. He serves clients on strategic and performance improvement programs, working with major banking groups, insurance companies, tech companies, and public sector institutions. Whitney Zimmerman is a core leader of our strategy work and an associate partner in our London office. He also leads our work on the role of the chief strategy officer, helping CSOs define and succeed in their roles, and he led our latest research on strategy capabilities and practices. Related insights Have you tested your strategy lately? How programmatic M&A fosters long-term resilience How AI is transforming strategy development Strategy to beat the odds The strategy leader’s evolving mandate Strategy Beyond the Hockey Stick Rewired: The McKinsey guide to outcompeting in the age of digital and AI McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
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262. Workday’s CEO on driving growth and transformation in the age of AI
Carl Eschenbach joined Workday in December 2022 to serve as co-CEO alongside Co-Founder Aneel Bhusri before becoming sole CEO in February 2024. In this episode, our North America Chair and senior partner, Eric Kutcher, talks with Carl about taking a ‘co-existence’ view of the role of AI in the workforce as a source of productivity, building an endurable company with a growth mindset culture, and the responsibility of leaders to serve the success of others. Related Insights Becoming CEO—just in time for a global crisis: David Gitlin How Judy Marks leads Otis Worldwide Corporation through uncertainty and technological evolution Data, analytics, and decisions: An interview with Teradata’s CFO Palo Alto Networks CFO on AI, cybersecurity, and the finance leader’s mandate The Strategic CEO newsletterSupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
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261. Retired US Navy Admiral Eric Olson: Leading effectively in uncertain times
In this episode, we speak with Eric Olson, a retired US Navy Admiral with a distinguished career in special operations, about the key principles of effective leadership, particularly in times of uncertainty. Eric shares insights from his experiences leading high-performing teams and organizations through complex challenges, offering valuable leadership lessons for executives in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Related insights: A CEO for All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets that Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs learn to lead from the inside out Trusted advice for effective leadership The CEO as chief resilience officer The Strategic CEO newsletter McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
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258. Andy Mattes on the challenges of driving M&A as CEO
Mergers and acquisitions are among the more complex processes new CEOs have to learn, whether they’re in the role for the first time or taking over at a new company. Andreas “Andy” W. Mattes has navigated this multiple times in his roles as CEO of Siemens Communications, Diebold, and later of Diebold Nixdorf, and now of the laser technology company Coherent. In this discussion with M&A practice leader Jake Henry, Andy talks about the roller-coaster ride that M&A can be, and the critical M&A skills he had to learn as a CEO, including how to best deal with competing bids and making time to commune with other CEOs. Jake is the global co-leader of McKinsey’s M&A Practice, which includes mergers, acquisitions, integrations, joint ventures, and divestitures. He previously led our Life Sciences Practice globally, where he guided pharmaceutical and medical-technology company executives on matters of corporate strategy, growth strategy, and operational excellence for more than twenty years. Related insights CEOs in M&A: Five actions only the chief executive can take Uncertainty in M&A: Postcards from the new normal M&A Annual Report: Is the wave finally arriving? What makes a successful CEO? The loneliest job? How top CEOs manage dilemmas and vulnerability CEO excellence: How do leaders assess their own performance? CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest The Journey of Leadership: How CEOs Learn to Lead From the Inside Out McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn McKinsey Insights on M&ASupport the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
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.