Inside the Strategy Room

Arvind Krishna, the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of IBM, stepped into the CEO role at IBM in 2020, following 30 years at the company. Prior to that, he held various senior positions, spanning VP of Cloud and Cognitive Software to Head of Research, where he drove innovation in core technologies – including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and cloud platform services. In today’s episode, Arvind joins our North America Chair and senior partner Eric Kutcher to discuss how he led IBM to triple its share price in just five years, the current AI landscape, how to pursue opportunities from volatility, the potential of quantum computing, what it takes to drive growth through innovation, and the dangers of being too risk-averse.
Related insights
CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest
A CEO for All Seasons: Mastering the cycles of leadership
The Strategic CEO newsletter
Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian: Lessons from the captain’s seat
Doug Parker, former chairman and CEO of American Airlines, shares leadership lessons
John Stankey talks about leaning into the long term at AT&T
Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/
See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Health insurers are facing urgent challenges related to affordability, access, and how to safely and effectively leverage AI and emerging technologies. In this episode, McKinsey senior partner Celia Huber is joined by Brian Evanko, president and chief operating officer of The Cigna Group. In this role, Brian oversees all of the company's business units, including its two growth platforms: Cigna Healthcare, a health benefits business, and Evernorth, a health services business. Together, these business units serve customers in more than 30 countries.
From here, Brian has a unique view of the challenges facing the industry and the people it serves—including the fact that the vast amount of US healthcare spending goes toward chronic care. In their conversation, Brian shares his perspective on the innovation needed, such as through the adoption of AI, to improve affordability and support prevention.
Related Insights
Future of US healthcare: Gathering storm 2.0 or a golden age?
Tackling healthcare’s biggest burdens with generative AI
The race to create a vaccine: A conversation with Frank D’Amelio
Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/
See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

CFOs are increasingly helping lead transformations of their companies, which has a range of implications for how they manage their time and stay up to date with technology. Leading transformation has often been viewed as more focused on other members of the C-suite. McKinsey’s research shows the critical role that CFOs have in the success of a transformation. In this episode, we speak with three McKinsey experts on the subject.
Kevin Carmody is a senior partner and the global co-leader of our CFO and Finance Excellence Practice based in Chicago. Previously, Kevin was a founding member of our Transformation Practice and a member of its global operating committee. Christian Grube is a partner in our Munich office, and leads our CFO and Finance Excellence Practice across Europe. Matt Maloney is a partner in our New York office, and leads our CFO and Finance Excellence Practice in the Americas.
Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/
See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Leaders across both the public and private sectors are navigating an era of constant disruption. They're expected to deliver major transformations, manage complexity, and balance competing priorities, all while ensuring their own teams are running smoothly. This is why the role of chief of staff has never been more critical. In this episode, three McKinsey experts–all former chiefs of staff–share insights on when a chief of staff is needed and what qualities distinguish those who excel in the role.
Michelle Forrest is the global client capabilities leader in our Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice, and previously served as chief of staff to our former global managing partner, Kevin Sneader. Andrew Goodman is a senior partner in our London office, and leads our consumer technology and media practice across Europe. He has also led our Chief of Staff Forum and our research into the role of the chief of staff for the past decade. Previously, Andrew served as chief of staff for the McKinsey Centre for Government, our center of excellence that helps government leaders deliver better outcomes and experiences. Connor Rochford is an associate partner who previously served as chief of staff for the U.K.'s former Chief Medical Officer.
Related insights
Anatomy of the chief of staff role
Chief of staff: Anatomy of the role in eight charts
How to be a better chief of staff
Seeing around corners: How to excel as a chief of staff
Lessons in leadership: Getting past politics to deliver for the people
Seven tips for success for new chiefs of staff at federal government agencies
Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/
See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

To ensure that their companies engage effectively with stakeholders, CEOs need to set communication standards, embody the organization’s culture and purpose, and speak up in moments that matter most. In today’s episode, we discuss what it takes for a CEO to shape and own their organization’s narrative. Joining us is Blair Epstein, a partner in our Bay Area office and a leader in our CEO Excellence Practice, Max Gleischman, a partner in our New York office who leads our strategic communications team, managing issues and policy communications for the firm, and Ramiro Prudencio, a partner in our London office who leads our global external communications team, building our reputation and engagement with external stakeholders.
Related insights:
The CEO’s role as chief storyteller
The art of 21st-century leadership: From succession planning to building a leadership factory
How the best CEOs build lasting stakeholder relationships
A CEO for All Seasons
CEO Excellence
Support the show: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-strategy-&-corporate-finance/
See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information