Advertise on podcast: McKinsey Talks Operations

Agentic AI is reshaping banking operations, enabling systems to act, decide, and learn at scale. Leading banks are redesigning their operating models to unlock new sources of value, improve resilience, and accelerate performance. As the gap between leaders and laggards widens, those who hesitate risk falling behind. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by Senior Partner David Deninzon and Partner Abhilash Sridharan to explore how agentic AI is transforming banking operations today. Together, they discuss where banks are seeing the greatest impact, what it takes to rewire core processes and decision-making, and how leaders can position their organizations to capture the full potential of this rapidly advancing technology. McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations  See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Across industries, organizations are asking more of their COOs: to drive efficiency, unlock growth, build resilience, lead cross-functional change, and help shape the business agenda. But what does it really take to excel as a modern operations leader today?   In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg speaks with McKinsey partners Darryl Piasecki and Tony Gambell, who lead the firm’s global COO Excellence initiative. Together, they break down the essential components of a high-impact COO, from a clear vision grounded in business strategy to an executable plan, strong stakeholder relationships, the right talent, and a personal operating model that enables sustained performance.  McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com. to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations  See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

2025 marked a pivotal moment for operations. Generative AI, automation, and advanced analytics moved from experimentation to real impact—and reshaped how organizations run.  In this special year-end episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, hosts Daphne Luchtenberg and Christian Johnson reflect on the defining shifts of the year, from deploying agentic AI and redesigning end-to-end processes to scaling digital twins, robotics, and data-driven sustainability. Against a backdrop of geopolitical volatility and supply chain disruption, leaders redefined what operational excellence really means.  Join us to revisit standout conversations from across operations to explore how organizations unlocked productivity, accelerated innovation, and built more resilient, intelligence-enabled operations.  McKinsey Talks Operations offers much more on the forces shaping the future of the function. Visit McKinsey Talks Operations to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice and join our community. Connect with us on LinkedIn. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Improving operations, generating revenue and implementing the right technology have all become key priorities for customer care professionals over the last decade. Organizations must find customer service operating models that scale, whilst maintaining customer satisfaction. In an evolving landscape where the leaders are those making significant strides in agentic AI adoption, one question remains: can an agentic AI voice agent truly be empathetic?    In this episode, host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by Eric Buesing, Partner at McKinsey & Company and Gadi Shamia, CEO and Co-founder of Replicant. Together, they discuss the evolving landscape of customer care and explore how agentic AI is transforming contact centres.     McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations.    See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Organizations today are under constant pressure to do more with less—improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing experiences. Process intelligence is emerging as a game changer, revealing how work truly happens inside organizations and uncovering new opportunities for impact.  In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by Mike Kaufmann, healthcare leader, board member, and former CEO of a Fortune 15 company, and Steven Eklund, McKinsey partner specializing in service operations. Together, they explore how process intelligence is transforming healthcare and service industries—illuminating inefficiencies, accelerating decision making, and driving measurable results.  From diagnosing operational bottlenecks to enabling smarter automation, the discussion dives into how leaders can harness data-driven insights to redesign workflows, improve outcomes, and build more resilient organizations.  Tune in to discover how process intelligence can help leaders see their operations in a whole new light—and take performance to the next level.  McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations  See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Innovation has long been the engine of economic growth, but today’s R&D efforts are hitting roadblocks. Progress is becoming harder, more complex, and increasingly expensive, signaling a decline in R&D productivity. So, how can leaders turn the tide and unlock the next wave of breakthroughs?  In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by Ravi Rajamani, Managing Director and Global Head of AI Blackbelts at Google Cloud, and Ben Meigs, associate partner in McKinsey's Product Development practice. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping the R&D landscape.  From accelerating processes and enhancing design generation to streamlining validation, the discussion dives into the transformative potential of AI to reverse declining productivity. They also tackle the critical role of organizational change, fostering a culture of experimentation, and making smart AI investments to drive meaningful ROI.  Tune in to discover how leaders can harness AI to reimagine R&D and fuel the next era of innovation. McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Aligning financial and environmental performance is no longer optional—it’s a strategic imperative for long-term success. Organizations are under mounting pressure to reduce emissions without compromising financial performance. But navigating new regulations, volatile material costs, and global supply chain risk makes balancing cost and carbon incredibly complex. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Christian Johnson speaks with Matthias Ballweg, Co-founder of Circular Republic, along with McKinsey experts Anna-Christina Fredershausen, Associate Partner in Frankfurt, and Johan Bengtsson, Partner in Stockholm. Together, they explore how companies are executing dual mission strategies—lowering costs and carbon simultaneously—while unlocking new opportunities across their value chains. McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Companies across industries are eager to adopt robots that can perform a variety of tasks with human-like flexibility. But achieving general-purpose robotics is no small feat—technical challenges like energy consumption, sim-to-real transfer, and safety concerns slow progress. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by McKinsey partner Ani Kelkar to discuss how advances in embodied AI, foundation models, and robotics design are breaking new ground. As robots learn to perceive, decide, and act in real-world environments. McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

With workforce shortages mounting and productivity growth stalling, robotics and automation have moved from optional to essential for operational leaders. Yet, many pilot programs stall before reaching meaningful scale—held back by integration hurdles, fragmented systems, and perceived risk. But breakthroughs in AI, digital twins, and adaptable platforms are changing the game. In this episode, host Daphne Luchtenberg speaks with Ani Kelkar, Partner at McKinsey & Company, Ujjwal Kumar, President of Teradyne Robotics, Marc Theermann, Chief Strategy Officer at Boston Dynamics, and Etienne Lacroix, Founder & CEO of Vention. Together, they explore how companies can overcome barriers and successfully integrate robotics into their operations to drive resilience, flexibility, and growth. McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Companies want to future-proof their supply chains without sacrificing agility or growth. Yet escalating tariffs and policy volatility could force them into reactive cycles, compounded by a lack of visibility in global supply chains and changing consumer preferences. From inventory tactics to operating model overhauls, our panel of experts explores how to shift from firefighting to foresight—creating systems that withstand shocks and unlock value. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by McKinsey partners Liz Hempel, Roman Belotserkovskiy, Valerio Dilda, and Riccardo Drentin for a conversation on navigating tariffs, shifting trade policy, and global supply chain complexity. McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

As companies race to improve customer responsiveness and satisfaction, many are turning to AI to transform their contact centers into hubs of efficiency and personalization. But despite growing investment, most organizations remain stuck in the pilot phase—hindered by legacy systems, fragmented data, and a lack of cross-functional collaboration. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, Christian Johnson speaks with Malte Kosub, CEO of Parloa, and McKinsey partners Oana Cheta and Brian Blackader to explore how Agentic AI is moving beyond automation to drive real-time decision-making, elevate customer experience, and scale service excellence. Is your contact center ready for the AI-driven future?  McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Many organizations struggle with outdated workforce models, limited AI adoption, and a disconnect between their global capability centers (GCCs) and core business strategies. To overcome these challenges, a global operating model can create capability centers that are an integral part of an organization’ s operations. They function as a microcosm of the company, with leadership, talent, and innovation globally distributed to create a resilient, globally distributed workforce. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg talks with Indy Banerjee, Senior Partner at McKinsey, and Jack Madrid, President and CEO of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) about how organizations can adopt a global operating model approach by upskilling and right-skilling their talent pools, embedding AI, and fostering a culture of continuous innovation. What steps can your organization take to turn its GCC into an engine of innovation? McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Logistics companies are striving to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability. Traditional methods often lack real-time data and insights to drive meaningful change. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, Samsara’s CEO and Co-founder, Sanjit Biswas, joins McKinsey’s Renee Jackson to discuss how AI-driven digital solutions are transforming logistics operations, from reducing accidents to optimizing asset utilization. How can AI help your business unlock new levels of operational excellence? McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Companies are striving for end-to-end visibility, efficiency, and agility in their supply chains. Yet, outdated infrastructure, fragmented data, and supply chain disruptions make these goals difficult to achieve. Can Generative AI bridge the gap? In this episode, host Daphne Luchtenberg speaks with Knut Alicke, Author and Leader of McKinsey's Supply Chain Academy; Alberto Oca, Co-leader of McKinsey's Digital Warehousing Practice in North America; Asaf Somekh, Co-founder of Iguazio, a McKinsey Company, and Sanjit Biswas, CEO and Co-founder of Samsara, to explore how AI-driven innovation is reshaping logistics, forecasting, and real-time decision-making. McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In an era of persistent change, how can companies foster an environment that empowers employees to anticipate, respond to, and even leverage unexpected shifts in the business landscape? In this episode, host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by McKinsey senior partners Dan Swan and Ruth Heuss, Global Co-Conveners of McKinsey’s Operations Practice, to explore strategies and approaches to technology, workforce planning, and sustainability that will help organizations remain agile and thrive despite uncertainty in 2025 and beyond.McKinsey Talks Operations has much more content to offer on the Operations topics that connect strategy with lasting success. Visit www.McKinseyTalksOperations.com to explore events and insights from McKinsey’s Operations Practice, and join the McKinsey Talks Operations community. You can also connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/showcase/mckinsey-operations See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information