Global trade is entering a new phase marked by unpredictability. Marc Gilbert and Michael McAdoo discuss how companies can respond by building supply chain flexibility, strengthening scenario planning, and enhancing their understanding of geopolitical developments.

Learn More:

Marc Gilbert: https://on.bcg.com/3SpNytS 

Michael McAdoo: https://on.bcg.com/4iQA6Ku 

BCG’s Center on Geopolitics: https://on.bcg.com/3EA5A9A 

There’s Nowhere to Hide as Tariffs Reshape Global Trade: https://on.bcg.com/44RLO47 

How Tariffs Are Shaping Investor Expectations: https://on.bcg.com/4iQA5pU 

The Global South isn’t standing still as tariffs and uncertainty roil financial markets and business plans. Aparna Bharadwaj, leader of BCG’s Global Advantage practice, explains how these nations are forming smart partnerships and moving from low-cost production to innovation-powered impact. 

Learn More: 

Aparna Bharadwaj: https://on.bcg.com/4cIKW3V 

In a Multipolar World, the Global South Finds Its Moment: https://on.bcg.com/42UhQLn

BCG on Emerging Markets: https://on.bcg.com/4cMJ9e4

BCG's Center for Geopolitics: https://on.bcg.com/3EA5A9A

[00:00] Aparna's 'So What'

[02:18] The Global South From Its Own Perspective

[04:12] Common Themes In The Global South

[07:43] Climate And Sustainability

[08:47] How Countries Are Navigating Their Own Paths

[11:08] China's Role In The Global South

[13:28] How Leaders In The Global North Can Flip The Narrative

[14:53] Emerging Industries In The Global South

[17:15] The Global South Is A Positive Story

[18:31] The Future Of Global Commerce

[20:21] Advice To Leaders In The Global South

[21:26] The 'Now What'

One in every three people will likely find their jobs significantly disrupted by AI in the next decade. Sagar Goel, leader of BCG’s work in digital reskilling and leadership development, talks about the role of the public and private sectors in preparing employees for this exciting, uncertain, and sometimes frightening world.   

Learn More: 

Sagar Goel: https://on.bcg.com/46D3O12 

Sagar’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC1QlUr5mCE 

BCG on AI: https://on.bcg.com/3SClDaT 

Harvard Business Review Article: https://hbr.org/2023/09/reskilling-in-the-age-of-ai 

This podcast gets straight to the point of ideas that will shape and disrupt the future. Award-winning British journalist Georgie Frost interviews the leading thinkers and doers at BCG on topics ranging from global warming, COVID-19, business resilience, and social inequity to the influence of digital technology on everything. Look for it every two weeks, starting November 3.

Home to over half of the world’s supply chain activity, Asia is a complex powerhouse. Bitan Datta, BCG’s Asia Pacific leader in manufacturing and supply chains, describes how to balance cost, resilience, and geopolitics in this lively market.  

Learn More:

Bitan Datta: https://on.bcg.com/49IlBW0 

BCG on Supply Chain Management: https://on.bcg.com/3VHFYwN 

How GenAI Reimagines Supply Chain Management: https://on.bcg.com/49FwAj3 

CEO Moments of Truth: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT 

The consumer goods industry is facing threats from new competitors, inflation, and changes in consumer behavior. Rohan Sajdeh, global leader of BCG’s consumer practice, outlines how companies can adapt through portfolio reshaping, advanced pricing strategies, and personalized customer experiences. He also discusses how AI and sustainability are shaping the future of the industry.  

Learn More: 

Rohan Sajdeh: https://on.bcg.com/4ggm0RL 

Consumer Products Industry: https://on.bcg.com/4f2DyQe 

CEO Moments of Truth: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT 

More than half of M&A deals fail, while winning deals can deliver five times the average payoff. Daniel Friedman, BCG’s global leader of transactions and integrations, explains the importance of a clear plan, thoughtful choice of targets, and strong teamwork. Finally, if company cultures don’t mesh, even the strongest financial deals won’t create lasting value. 

Learn More: 

Daniel Friedman: https://on.bcg.com/3V2Wlnp 

M&A Activity by Year: The BCG M&A Report Collection: https://on.bcg.com/3OdAV3j 

BCG on M&A: https://on.bcg.com/4hYkp4y 

CEO Moments of Truth: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT 

Hubertus Meinecke, BCG’s global climate and sustainability lead, and Axel Reinaud, CEO of NetZero, discuss what climate startups can learn from large corporations and vice versa. Corporations have capital that startups need but take a long time to make decisions. Startups are fast moving and have strong technical skills but are short on the capital that large corporations can provide.  

Learn More: 

Hubertus Meinecke: https://on.bcg.com/3AqhSzp 

Axel Reinaud: https://netzero.green/en/team/ 

NetZero: https://netzero.green/en/ 

Green Growth Accelerator: https://on.bcg.com/4furqrQ 

CEO Moments of Truth https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT 

Judith Wallenstein, leader of BCG’s CEO Advisory, explains how chiefs of staff help CEO’s succeed and identify the characteristics that matter most in this role. The best chiefs of staff have integrity, confidence, and a selfless commitment to their boss —becoming part of a CEO’s inner circle by staying out of the spotlight. 

Learn More: 

Judith Wallenstein: https://on.bcg.com/402EekT 

CEO Agenda: https://on.bcg.com/400T1MM 

How CEOs Can Find the Right Chief of Staff: https://on.bcg.com/3NowT7K 

CEO Moments of Truth https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT 

Mark Abraham, leader of BCG’s Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice in North America, explains how organizations can combine the physical and digital to create powerful customer experiences. As co-author of the new book Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI, Abraham explains that few actually hit the mark—wasting resources and leaving customers disappointed. 

Learn More: 

Mark Abraham: https://on.bcg.com/3NdACFc 

Read Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI: https://on.bcg.com/3zVUEAN 

BCG on Personalization: https://on.bcg.com/4eRv1QK 

CEO Moments of Truth: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT 

What are today’s big business challenges and why is it a great time to be a CEO? Christoph Schweizer talks about what he has learned in his three years at the helm.    

Hear Christoph’s insights on how CEOs navigate difficult decisions, including his own "moment of truth" when he faced a critical challenge. 

Learn More: 

Watch Christoph's one-on-one discussions with CEOs: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT 

Explore the latest for CEOs from CEOs: https://on.bcg.com/4exCwvS 

Christoph Schweizer: https://on.bcg.com/3MU8eaZ 

Can risk management evolve from a check-the-box exercise into a driver of innovation? Tad Roselund, BCG’s former chief risk officer, explains how organizations can create advantage by anticipating challenges, training employees to spot risks, and balancing prevention with recovery. 

Learn More: 

Tad Roselund: https://on.bcg.com/3WR4Ge2  

BCG on Risk and Compliance: https://on.bcg.com/3Toc1RB 

CEO Moments of Truth: https://on.bcg.com/TSWMoT

Listen as BCG AI conversational agent GENE and editor in chief Paul Michelman highlight the opportunities and obstacles ahead for CEOs, as outlined in BCG’s most recent thought leadership. The duo share which steps to take now before an expected M&A resurgence, the lessons to be learned from fintech, and how to advance carbon dioxide reduction. 

LEARN MORE 

After you listen, dive deep into the details in these bcg.com publications: 

AI at Work 2024: Friend and Foe (https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/ai-at-work-friend-foe) 

M&A Insights H1 2024: The Recovery Continues (https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/m-and-a-market-insights-series-h1-2024) 

Prudence, Profits, and Growth (https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/global-fintech-prudence-profits-and-growth) 

Boosting Demand for Carbon Dioxide Removal (https://www.bcg.com/publications/2024/boosting-demand-for-carbon-dioxide-removal) 

Subscribe to CEO Digest: https://lnk.to/ceo-digest-general-series-link05

For more insight from BCG on the CEO Agenda, visit https://on.bcg.com/4cSLtiu. 

Hear more of GENE on Imagine This… at https://lnk.to/imagine-this-general-show09, BCG’s future-focused podcast series. 

Nicolas de Bellefonds, BCG’s global AI leader, unpacks the myths, challenges, and real potential of AI agents. They can transform how work gets done if companies stop chasing shortcuts, rethink outdated processes, and prepare for the costs and complexity that come with real change. 

Learn More: 

Nicolas de Bellefonds: https://on.bcg.com/4lr0Dkh 

BCG’s Latest Thinking on AI: https://on.bcg.com/3Y1NHaq 

The CEO’s Workout for Peak AI Performance: https://on.bcg.com/44opFtV 

From Potential to Profit: Closing the AI Impact Gap: https://on.bcg.com/3XZBGSL 

Chapters:

[0:25] Nico’s So What

[1:16] What Are Agents?

[3:57] What Problems Do Agents Solve?

[5:56] How Do Agents Affect Processes?

[7:50] What Should Leaders Focus On?

[9:06] How Do You Start Improving Data and Infrastructure?

[10:24] What Are the Biggest Challenges?

[13:48] What Is Next?

[14:49] How Close Are We to AGI?

[15:43] What Are the Risks?

[17:13] Now What?

One in every three people will likely find their jobs significantly disrupted by AI in the next decade. Sagar Goel, leader of BCG’s work in digital reskilling and leadership development, talks about the role of the public and private sectors in preparing employees for this exciting, uncertain, and sometimes frightening world.   

Learn More: 

Sagar Goel: https://on.bcg.com/46D3O12 

Sagar’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC1QlUr5mCE 

BCG on AI: https://on.bcg.com/3SClDaT 

Reskilling in the Age of AI: https://hbr.org/2023/09/reskilling-in-the-age-of-ai

In a world of microtargeted ads and niche audiences, sports remain one of the few remaining opportunities for brands to capture the attention of the masses. Dan Wald, global lead of BCG’s sports business, talks about how the Olympics works to stay relevant in a fragmented world. How can businesses and sports leagues incorporate this success into their current strategies?  

Learn More: 

Dan Wald: https://on.bcg.com/4dfqw1g 

Marketing and Sales: https://on.bcg.com/46jJ7Hx 

The average US consumer belongs to around 14 loyalty programs. Edward Crouch, BCG’s global leader for loyalty and membership, explains how unique experiences and personalization can convert everyday customers into loyal fans.  

Learn More: 

Edward Crouch: https://on.bcg.com/3zgpaF0 

Loyalty Programs Need Next-Generation Design: https://on.bcg.com/4chjlWy 

Travel and Tourism: https://on.bcg.com/3KXgJ3X 

One in every three US adults has a criminal record that follows them like a lead weight as they look for work. Lina Bankert, managing director and partner in BCG’s Chicago office, and Kathleen St. Louis Caliento, president and CEO of Cara Collective, explain that formerly incarcerated people can be model employees. Hiring always involves risk. By partnering with government agencies and nonprofit organizations, companies can set up fair-chance hires for success in the workplace. Many of them, for example, also need help with housing and transportation that agencies can provide.

Learn More: 

Lina Bankert: on.bcg.com/4c7gm2Q 

Kathleen St. Louis Caliento: Kathleen St. Louis Caliento - Cara Collective 

Three Roads to Equitable and Inclusive Talent Development: on.bcg.com/3xifUQa 

Cara Collective: Home - Cara Collective 

Brian Collie, BCG’s global leader for the automotive and mobility sector, explains that price and range anxiety remain as barriers to adoption of electric vehicles. Even so, recent BCG research in the US found that nearly 40% of surveyed consumers are considering a switch to electric for their next vehicle. To tap into that demand, manufacturers need to lower their cost structure—they currently lose $6,000-$30,000 per car—and work with partners. 

Learn More: 

Brian Collie: on.bcg.com/3XnvKTX 

Automotive Industry: on.bcg.com/4ejyMid 

Can OEMs Catch the Next Wave of EV Adopters?: on.bcg.com/3KJ9UCS 

Banks and other financial systems are the lifeblood of the economy. But most of them trade at less than book value, constrained by regulation, the growth of private credit, and tech startups. Kilian Berz, global vice chair of BCG’s financial institutions practice, explains how traditional banks can regain their footing through leadership and transformation.

Learn More:

Kilian Berz:https://on.bcg.com/4bDKQcj 

Financial Institutions: https://on.bcg.com/3wLmFK5 

To Seize a $7 Trillion Opportunity, Banks Need Bolder Strategies for Serving Customers and Society: https://on.bcg.com/4byWlSm 

Current economic models are not up to the challenge of capturing the real-world complexities of climate change. But better models are on the horizon. Sophia Davies, BCG’s lead for climate tech partnerships, explains how AI can supercharge these models to predict how public policies will motivate the private sector. Early returns suggest we may be vastly underestimating the effect of policy on climate change.  

Learn More: 

Climate and Sustainability: on.bcg.com/3QOGjeX 

AI: on.bcg.com/3K69aHS 

“Deep Design” Could Take On the World’s Big Systemic Challenges: https://on.bcg.com/3K6oFPV 

If cybercrime were a country, it would be the third largest economy in the world. Paul O’Rourke, BCG’s global cybersecurity leader, explains how organizations can protect themselves and their supply chains: Start by recognizing that the elimination of all risks is impossible. Instead focus security efforts on an organization’s “crown jewels”—its most critical digital assets. Leaders don’t need to be cyber experts. But regulators may hold them responsible for some breaches, so they better understand and address the risks.

Learn More:

Paul O’Rourke: https://on.bcg.com/3QAoPCN

Cybersecurity and Digital Risk: https://on.bcg.com/3UwRTwg

Every C-Suite Member Is Now a Chief AI Officer: https://on.bcg.com/3UJ7ry9

Joe Davis, BCG’s former regional chair for North America, says you can make tough decisions without being a “tough guy.” In the executive suite, empathy and authenticity are in, according to Davis, the author of the new business book, The Generous Leader.  Even as tech skills dominate the headlines, Davis celebrates the enduring value of mastering people skills. 

Learn More: 

The Generous Leader: A Leadership Book by Joe Davis | The Generous Leader 

Joe Davis: https://on.bcg.com/3Q9pMlw 

Do Not Stop Asking Questions and Listening Carefully to the Answers: https://on.bcg.com/3Jx5LBy  

Turning Superheroes into a Super Leadership Team: https://on.bcg.com/4d2fnlk 

Responsible investing goes back decades or even longer if pronouncements in the Old Testament and Qur’an are considered. Environment, social, and governance goals have become embedded in corporate strategy, even if the acronym ESG has become polarizing. Tim Mohin, director of climate and sustainability at BCG, discusses this evolution and what the next iteration might look like. One thing is clear: these goals aren’t going away even if companies stop talking about them.  

Learn More: 

Tim Mohin: https://on.bcg.com/3TK47kE 

Climate Change and Sustainability: https://on.bcg.com/3xl1QoG 

 By the year 2035, we will likely be able to utilize AI to crunch complex data sets and produce far more accurate predictions of the future, for everything from stock market fluctuations to consumer trends. Already, meteorologists are using AI to improve weather forecasting—for instance, by more accurately predicting when a hurricane will make landfall. But BCG’s Alan Iny says this does not mean that business leaders will be able to dispense with planning for multiple scenarios. Predictions will never be perfect—and everyone will have access to the same tools—so strategic planning will remain critical even as it evolves in new ways. 

Learn More: 

Imagine This: https://lnk.to/imagine-this-general-show09

Alan Iny: https://on.bcg.com/4fCNDo5 

Are Leaders as Prepared for Strategic Risks as They Think They Are?: https://on.bcg.com/3AXqw8J 

BCG on Corporate Finance and Strategy: https://on.bcg.com/496c3Ek 

CEO Moments of Truth: https://on.bcg.com/ITMoT  

The original BRIC acronym came to life in 2001 to describe the untapped economic potential of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. This informal grouping of nations has since coalesced into a rising economic force, especially since the entry of South Africa in 2010 and Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates at the start of this year. Daniel Azevedo—leader of BCG’s global advantage practice in Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Africa —explains how global companies can navigate a world in which economic power is heading south. 

Learn More: 

Daniel Azevedo: https://on.bcg.com/3vli2Wc 

Jobs, National Security, and the Future of Trade: https://on.bcg.com/3TLkE9o 

These 9 Forces Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape: https://on.bcg.com/3VrSwJr 

What would you have done differently if you had anticipated the likelihood of a global pandemic or the explosion of generative AI? In BCG’s newest podcast Imagine This..., BCG’s editor in chief Paul Michelman, and his AI co-host GENE delve into disruptive scenarios that could define the coming decades. BCG experts join the conversation, probing the possibilities and implications for leaders. Human and machine work together to explore the very real actions CEOs could take today to prepare.  

By 2030, the best CIO might be a CIB: a chief intelligence bot. And the human CEO might be bolstered by a swarm of CEO bots, able to harness a vast diversity of perspectives. Can you imagine? In this episode, BCG’s Mickey McManus envisions a future where top leaders share the corner office with AI—blending the logical with human intuition. Mickey, a BCG senior advisor and a pioneer in human-centered design, considers how a company like this would function. Hint: he recommends an approach much like jazz improvisation. 

Learn More 

You’ll find more of what BCG has to say about generative AI here:  

https://on.bcg.com/3UuWtNd 

GenAI on GenAI: https://lnk.to/bcg-genai-on-genai-series-link05

Also, in this episode, Mickey recommends an entirely new reading list for the C-suite, including:  

Iain M. Banks’s Culture series: https://www.amazon.com/The-Culture-9-book-series/dp/B07WLZZ9WV 

Joy Buolamwini’s Unmasking AI [https://www.amazon.com/Unmasking-AI-Mission-Protect-Machines/dp/0593241835] 

Safiya Umoja Noble’s Algorithms of Oppression [https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-Oppression-Search-Engines-Reinforce/dp/1479837245] 

From 2010 to 2016, Africa was closing the gender gap faster than any region in the world. Challenges such as plunging commodity prices and the pandemic have set that progress back a generation. BCG’s Zineb Sqalli and Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye explain that domestic violence as well as unsafe public places are barriers in southern Africa. Traditional roles of women in families stand in the way of progress everywhere. Both public and private sectors must change the narrative to create inclusive work environments. Besides being the right thing to do, gender equity could boost Africa’s GDP by $300 billion a year. 

Learn More: 

Reframing the Narrative on Women’s Roles in African Societies: on.bcg.com/3UQd3Hx 

Zineb Sqalli: on.bcg.com/3wqCoO7 

Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye: on.bcg.com/3UOVhnO 

For many business leaders, cost efficiency took a backseat to the polycrisis caused by the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and employee attrition. But today, earnings pressures and economic uncertainty place cost solidly front and center at most companies. Paul Goydan, global leader of BCG’s Accelerated Cost Advantage program, arms these leaders with insights and approaches, exploring everything from how AI can uncover waste to finding promising places to reinvest the savings.  

Learn More: 

Cost Management: On.bcg.com/49xIABZ 

What Leaders Are Saying About Costs and Growth in 2024: On.bcg.com/3OCEDDV 

Imagine This...: https://lnk.to/imagine-this-general-show09

Most companies have no idea how many of their employees live with a disability. Most organizations report 4-7%, but BCG research says it’s much higher—25%. And that percentage is only going to climb as the workforce ages. Brad Loftus and Hillary Wool are both high-performing consultants who live with disabilities. They discuss why companies are so misinformed and explore how leaders can provide reasonable and cost-effective accommodations—and increase inclusion and retention.    

Learn More: 

• Your Workforce Includes People with Disabilities. Does Your People Strategy?:https://on.bcg.com/3vQm7Sb 

In implementing generative AI, companies are paying too much attention to the algorithms and not enough to the human element. How well are workers equipped to use it—and use it responsibly? Allison Bailey, global leader for BCG’s people and organization practice, discusses the need for upskilling and reskilling in not just technology, but also being adaptive, creative, and collaborative. Businesses must also train their employees to incorporate AI into their daily routine—and learn when the risks are not worth it.  

Learn More: 

From Potential to Profit with GenAI: https://on.bcg.com/4b1Bp6A 

In this special episode of The So What from BCG, human and AI intelligence come together. Join BCG’s Global Chair Rich Lesser, and GENE, BCG’s new GenAI conversational agent, for a wide-ranging exploration of the CEO agenda as world leaders gather at Davos. Rich and GENE discuss the transformative power of generative AI technology, the urgency of climate action, and the critical need for trust in an era of innovation.

If you’re invested in the future of business and society, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. To learn more about BCG at Davos, visit https://www.bcg.com/about/partner-ecosystem/world-economic-forum/davos. To hear more of GENE, listen at https://lnk.to/bcg-genai-on-genai-series-link05.

Time is a finite resource. What is the best way to spend it? Bob Sulentic, CEO of the multibillion-dollar company CBRE explains why he deliberately leaves hours of his workday open for thinking, reading, and being available to his direct reports. That approach may not work for all CEOs. What’s important, explains BCG’s Jeff Hill, is that CEOs spend time thinking about time. An unexamined calendar is a missed opportunity to become a more effective leader.   

Learn More: 

For CEOs, It’s About Time: https://on.bcg.com/41ICUTf 

Jeff Hill: https://on.bcg.com/4anotrx 

Bob Sulentic: https://www.cbre.com/people/bob-sulentic 

As 2023 ends, people look to the new year to become the best version of themselves. Sreyssha George, an expert in technology and people for BCG, explains how to build your personal brand by choosing a role model, asking for feedback, and being open to change. 

Learn More: 

Sreyssha George: https://on.bcg.com/472Hqgn 

The human brain is constantly making associations between events, objects, and memories. David Ratajczak, global leader of BCG’s marketing practice, says companies can rely on this deep psychology to create positive associations with their brand. Campaigns no longer exist solely in big media where only large, established companies could afford them. Startups and small businesses can win mindshare against industry giants by investing in precision digital technology that takes advantage of these associations.      

Learn More:

Digital Marketing: https://on.bcg.com/3GzAe04

Capturing Mind Share with Precision Branding: https://on.bcg.com/3T6jMw0

Karin von Funck, BCG’s global lead for zero-based transformation, explains why great cost transformation goes beyond spreadsheets. The best companies don’t slash expenses. They have a deep understanding of what drives value, a rigorous approach to spending, and a culture that supports smart decision making. Quick cuts may deliver short-term relief but can erode long-term growth—as well as the trust of employees.  

Learn More: 

Karin von Funck: https://on.bcg.com/4iBZXqn 

BCG Latest Thinking on Cost: https://on.bcg.com/4iU0RhB 

Cost Management Remains an Executive Priority in 2025: https://on.bcg.com/41VTsYm 

A promising $19 trillion has been put toward the energy transition. The bad news? We need $18 trillion more—and that’s just to reach 2030 goals. As the world gears up for COP28, the UN’s climate conference, Maurice Berns, chair of BCG’s Center for Energy Impact, explores how to close this gap.   

 Learn More: 

Climate Vision 2050: https://lnk.to/bcg-climate-vision-2050-series-link05

Energy Transition: https://on.bcg.com/3RkyP40 

Bridging the $18 Trillion Gap in Net Zero Capital: https://on.bcg.com/3R0Ki7b 

A Blueprint for the Energy Transition: https://on.bcg.com/46uEvg4 

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

Ahead of COP28, the UN’s climate conference, we explore the unique ways public-private partnerships help achieve sustainability goals. Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, CEO of Novo Nordisk; Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca; and Christine O’Brien, lead for BCG’s climate and sustainability practice in health care, discuss the projects and success of the Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force.

The Task Force brings together global health leaders to enhance individual, societal, and planetary health. Together, they have launched sector-first commitments, actions, and recommendations to accelerate the delivery of net zero, patient-centric health systems.

 Learn More: 

https://www.sustainable-markets.org/taskforces/health-systems-taskforce/  

For more about Pascal: https://www.astrazeneca.com/our-company/leadership.html#

For more about Lars: https://www.novonordisk.com/about/executive-management/lars-fruergaard-jorgensen.html

For more about Christine: https://on.bcg.com/3R9xbSJ)

https://on.bcg.com/47KDWQp

It’s 2050 and we’re exploring how the world radically reduced carbon emissions and saved itself from climate catastrophe. What have our cities done to accommodate massive population growth? And how do businesses, governments, researchers and everyday people work together to build sustainable supply chains, agricultural practices and transportation infrastructure?

This is Climate Vision 2050, a podcast series from BCG.

In this episode, Nairobi’s green tech and innovation boom make it a 2050 powerhouse. That success comes with climate challenges that the city is addressing. Urban planner Bailey Muthoni lives in housing built from plastic waste and gets around on an electric motorbike. She stages a tactical urbanism intervention advocating for improved walkability around the city's parliament.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Chartable - https://chartable.com/privacy

We are closing in on the first anniversary of the public release of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and GPT-4. And yet the ever-changing field of human-machine collaboration remains poorly understood. François Candelon, global director of the BCG Henderson Institute, explains the findings of recent research that explores where AI work is more effective than people and where it isn’t.  

Learn More: 

•  https://on.bcg.com/3Sszzos 
• https://on.bcg.com/3u3jUBV 

Downtowns were built for a 9-5 world that no longer exists. Santiago Ferrer, BCG’s North American lead for cities, real estate, and infrastructure development, says civic leaders have an opportunity and responsibility to rethink the best use of buildings, transportation systems, and other infrastructure.  

Learn More: 

•  https://on.bcg.com/46FFo6s 
• https://on.bcg.com/471A6lj 

A price is an expression of value and part of a conversation with customers. Jean-Manuel Izaret, BCG’s global leader of pricing, discusses the importance of designing a pricing strategy that creates value for customers and companies alike. Businesses must know when to leave money on the table and be careful to avoid prices so high they actually hamper sales. Jean-Manuel highlights seven pricing games companies should consider playing and other lessons to build pricing strategy from his new book, Game Changer.

Learn More:

• https://on.bcg.com/3RT5A8Z

Should the workplace of the future consist of a mostly in-office, remote, or hybrid model? Deborah Lovich, leader of BCG’s work on people strategy, argues we’re asking the wrong question entirely. Organizations should focus on creating productivity for themselves and joy for their employees. It will take more than a memo from the top to create this new working model. Time, resources, and strong managers are all necessary.   

In 2015, the UN established Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030. In 2023, we are halfway there and have achieved only about 12% of those goals. Rich Hutchinson, global leader of BCG’s Social Impact practice, suggests that companies both can help achieve those goals and boost their bottom line. Organizations need to set ambitious goals. Leaders need to do more than treat ESG as a checklist. And governments can also provide incentives that encourage private sector innovation.  

Cost-cutting gets a bad rap, but the exercise is actually an opportunity to find money that can be reinvested in the business. Mark Austin, BCG’s global topic leader of cost and zero-based transformation, challenges executives to create more efficient and effective operating models by empowering employees to find areas of unnecessary spending in places that may not be obvious. They can then look to their people and their industry to find the most effective ways to funnel that money back into the organization.  

As the school year approaches, we are reaching into The So What from BCG archives. Join us as we revisit our examination of why education remains rooted in a bygone era of neat orderly rows of desks and lesson plans, even as the world races ahead into the metaverse and beyond. In this wide-ranging conversation first published in June 2022, Leila Hoteit, managing director and senior partner who leads BCG’s education, employment, and welfare work, argues for a lifelong approach to learning inside and outside the classroom—one that teaches people to solve hard problems and develop soft skills.

She talks about why students should think about the fairytale “Little Red Riding Hood” from the perspective of the wolf, how the technology that treats autism can help others learn better, and why people from different cultures may come up with different answers to the famous trolley problem.

For years, extended reality (XR) has waited to find its place in business. New lightweight, AI-enabled headsets are bringing the power of AI to the frontline. Tibor Mérey, BCG’s global business leader in frontier tech, explains how XR can boost productivity and address labor shortages. But will workers embrace it? 

Tibor Mérey: https://on.bcg.com/43l9LQI 

BCG’s Latest Thinking on Technology, Media, and Telecommunications: https://on.bcg.com/4hek0JY 

BCG on Augmented and Virtual Reality: https://on.bcg.com/4hcx0zu 

Seeing the World Through AI Glasses: https://lnk.to/imagine-this-Woolsey-smartglasses09 

How do the top 5% of companies ascend to their spots—and stay there? Extensive BCG research shows that they excel in six areas, among them: focusing on a clear vision, remaining agile, and creating a solid, yet flexible tech base. A leader of that research, Romain de Laubier, shares insights from working alongside executives and helping them take an honest look at what their companies do well—and what could be improved. Also the global leader of digital strategy and AI work at BCG, he highlights some of the key findings from the Build for the Future research.  

Jessica Apotheker, chief marketing officer of BCG and BCGX, and Akbar Hamid, co-founder of People of Crypto Lab, explain how the metaverse can combine the best of the physical and virtual worlds to create a seamless immersive experience—or amplify what’s wrong in the physical world.  

AI is evolving daily, challenging businesses to adjust and adapt. Vladimir Lukic, global leader of BCG’s Tech & Digital Advantage practice, demystifies what companies need to get right when implementing AI. A shift in mindset can go a long way toward unlocking AI’s potential.