McKinsey Talks Operations
McKinsey Talks Operations is a podcast that explores how companies can build resilience, flexibility, and agility in the next normal. Hosted by McKinsey & Company, it features conversations with C-suite leaders and McKinsey experts on topics such as connecting boardroom strategy to the frontlines, increasing performance, infusing operations with technology, and empowering the workforce. Each episode offers insights and strategies for creating a new operational reality and gaining competitive advantage. The podcast also provides additional content and community engagement through its website and LinkedIn.
Episodes
Rewiring Europe: Turning pressure into performance
Europe’s productivity challenge is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Strained supply chains, rising costs, and intensifying global competition are putting mounting pressure on operations leaders to act decisively. Without bold action, Europe risks falling behind for decades to come. So what will it take for European leaders to reignite the continent’s productivity growth? In t
Winning the Race to Rewire in 2026: Capturing operational advantage
The pace of innovation is reshaping industries at an unprecedented speed, but technology alone is not a source of advantage. To compete in a rapidly evolving global landscape, organizations must move beyond isolated tech deployments and embrace end-to-end process transformation. The real question for 2026 is: how can leaders rewire their operations to capture the full value of what’s possibl
The paradigm shift: how agentic AI is redefining banking 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 Seni
COO Excellence: the next generation of leadership
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,
The race to rewire operations: How the story unfolded in 2025
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 pro
Beyond the bot: building empathetic customer experiences with agentic AI
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
Unlocking hidden value with process intelligence in healthcare and beyond
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, healt
Transforming R&D with AI: Breaking barriers and boosting productivity
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
Lower cost, fewer emissions, greater impact: The dual mission in action
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 McK
Rewriting the robotics playbook: From promise to performance
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 di
The robotics revolution: Scaling beyond the pilot phase
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 episod
The new tariff reality: From risk to resilience
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&mdash
The future of customer experience: Embracing agentic AI
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,
Beyond cost savings: The global footprint of innovation hubs
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
Safer, greener, faster: AI-powered supply chains in action
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
Beyond automation: How gen AI is reshaping supply chains
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 McKinse
Powering productivity: Operations insights for 2025
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 technolog
A year in review from McKinsey Talks Operations: Beyond normal
At the end of 2023, the final podcast of McKinsey Talks Operations concluded that there was no normal for operations leaders. Looking back on the 12 months since then, it seems the sentiment holds true—both everything and nothing has changed. In this episode, hosts Christian Johnson and Daphne Luchtenberg reflect on four recurring themes from their discussions with McKinsey experts and indus
Procurement’s sustainable (r)evolution
New opportunities are coming for organizations to use procurement for a competitive edge and a driver for sustainability impact through innovation and strategic partnerships. However, the complexities of global supply chains and rapidly changing market conditions can make it hard to capture the value available. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, Mauro Erriquez, McKinsey senior partner,
In pursuit of productivity: How Minsur mined a rich seam of operational excellence
Organizations are striving to maintain operational excellence amidst rapid digital transformation, yet integrating advanced technologies while maintaining efficiency and employee engagement is a complex task. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, Juan Luis Kruger, CEO of Minsur, and McKinsey Partner Ferran Pujol join host Christian Johnson to discuss how digital tools and Lean management p
The best jobs in the world: How the Global Lighthouse Network is shaping the future of production
Companies worldwide are eager to adopt Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to boost both productivity and sustainability. However, the path to achieving this is fraught with challenges, from outdated legacy systems to the critical need for workforce upskilling. And in some cases, needing to overcome an image problem that makes it hard to recruit and retain the talent required to fill v
Innovation hubs: How Global Capability Centers are shaping the future of business
Enterprises are looking to Global Capability Centers (GCCs) as critical innovation hubs to stay ahead in the competitive landscape, but the difficulty lies in aligning strategic priorities with the capabilities of GCCs to maximize their impact. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by McKinsey partners Abhilash Sridharan and Malcolm Gomes, Debasis Panda of
Future-proofing operations: How tech and talent go hand-in-hand
In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg talks with McKinsey’s Julian Salguero who shares insights on the importance of talent management, particularly in the face of labor market shortfalls and the evolving needs of different generations in today’s workforce. The episode also features Lindsay DeVagno, VP of Human Resources at Keurig Dr Pepper, speaking with McKinsey c
The evolution of customer care: AI and the Gen Z effect
With the coming of age of Gen Z—both as customers and new entrants to the workforce—customer demands are changing. At the same time, the arrival of generative AI (gen AI) is changing the way contact centers can respond to those demands. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by McKinsey partners Eric Buesing and Brian Blackader to discuss the latest trends,
When failure is an option: How to foster innovation and learning across your organization
Achieving operational excellence takes practice. But in high stakes operations, practice could prove costly—or even dangerous—if things go wrong. In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by Amy Radermacher, Markus Hammer, and Professor Christian Ramsauer to explore how capability center learning programs can allow organizations to experiment in a safe environ
There is no normal: An operations year in review
As 2023 draws to a close, it has become increasingly apparent that there is no ‘normal’ for Operations leaders. Join hosts Christian Johnson and Daphne Luchtenberg as they take a look back at the year gone by through the lens of McKinsey Talks Operations. In this episode they revisit some highlight moments of their conversations with McKinsey experts and industry guests, covering topics from gener
Generative AI in Operations: Capturing the value
Generative AI is continuing to dominate C-suite conversations across sectors. Organizations are starting to understand its transformative potential across the operations value chain, but just what will it take to get started? McKinsey’s Nicolai Muller and Marie El Hoyek, a Cologne-based senior partner and London-based associate partner, talk to McKinsey Talks Operations host Christian Johnson abou
Navigating the new normal: Operations insights for 2024
Join us in this episode of "McKinsey Talks Operations" as host Daphne Luchtenberg sits down with senior partners at McKinsey & Company, Daniel Swan and Axel Karlsson, to explore the ever-evolving global landscape impacting companies. Discover how organizations are adapting to unprecedented challenges, from inflation to sustainability, and why operations and supply chain are taking center stage
Manufacturing Africa's future: Jobs, growth, and sustainability
The manufacturing sector and associated operations have the power to drive an economy forwards. This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations looks at the critical role of production in Africa's growth and development: with Africa's population set to double by 2050, the need for sustainable job creation is paramount. Host Daphne Luchtenberg is joined by Dr. Amy Jadesimi, Managing Director of LADOL, an
Unlocking Operational Evolution: The Zero-Basing Philosophy
Zero-basing could be said to have an image problem, with a perceived sole focus on cost-cutting. This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations dispels some of the myths about this approach and looks at how it can become a dynamic philosophy that transcends traditional cost-cutting, offering leaders newfound visibility into their operations, investments, and resources. Join host Daphne Luchtenberg with
Reset + Reimagine: The role of generative AI in SG&A success
In this episode of McKinsey Talks Operations, recorded at McKinsey’s recent CFO forum in partnership with Inside the Strategy Room, host Daphne Luchtenberg talks to Matt Jochim and Martin Rosendahl, partners in McKinsey's London office, along with Samdruk Thomas, an associate partner based in Zurich. Together, they delve into the challenges and opportunities faced by Sales, General & Administr
Navigating Dynamic Labor: Building Strong Warehousing Operations
Join host Daphne Luchtenberg in a robust discussion with industry leaders Chris Smith and Richard Cawston, along with McKinsey senior expert Alan Davies, as they delve into the intricacies of the labor environment and share best practices for establishing thriving warehousing operations. Explore the challenges faced by the industry, from labor disruptions to changing demand profiles, and draw from
Following the leaders: Moving up with ‘From Source to Sold.’
Join Radu Palamariu and Knut Alicke on McKinsey Talks Operations as they share anecdotes from the writing of their new book. In this episode, the authors of From Source to Sold: Stories of Leadership in Supply Chain, talk about the idea that sparked the book, and the advice every supply chain professional can follow to accelerate their career growth. Don’t miss this engaging discussion hosted by D
Operational excellence: How purpose and technology can power performance
What is operational excellence? And how can a renewed focus on this approach contribute to success in today’s business landscape? This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations explores the concept of operational excellence and its significance in organizations that use this approach of augmenting production and process systems. Our experts share insights on how companies can successfully adopt technol
Skinny design: Smaller is better
We’re exploring the concept of ‘skinny design’ and its potential benefits for consumers, retailers, and the environment. Join our McKinsey experts as they delve into the cost savings, sustainability, and commercial advantages of reducing the size of product packaging, and discuss innovative solutions such as nesting products and honeycomb packing formats to reduce stock outs and improve sustainabi
McKinsey Talks Operations: How the best of 2022 can power 2023
It’s been a year since the McKinsey Talks Operations podcast launched, and during that time there’s been plenty to talk about. Join hosts Daphne Luchtenberg and Christian Johnson as they take a look back at some of the year’s highlights. Discussions about inflation, building operational resilience, managing supply chains, decarbonizing operations, and the role of digital twins have all featured hi
Myth busters: Unexpected insights on contact centers
What do customers really want from their contact centers? A number of myths about areas including speed of answer and channel preference are shaping contact center and service strategy, leading to dissatisfied consumers and employees. This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations blows apart customer service myths, and suggests how data and analytics can be used to shape future strategy. Join the con
Batteries included: Building and operating sustainable gigafactories
As economies move towards more sustainable transport options, more electric vehicles are rolling off production lines than ever before. These vehicles need to be powered by lithium batteries, built in specialist facilities called gigafactories. With more than 30 planned in Europe alone, companies are working fast to develop the construction and operating playbook for these highly technical sites.
114 down, 10 million to go. The Global Lighthouse Network’s mission
Members of the Global Lighthouse Network have become a source of inspiration. With more than 100 sites worldwide, they are beacons of light showing the potential of digital transformation to positively impact people and the planet. This episode of McKinsey Talks Operations explores the growth of the Network from the first 16 sites to a community of the world’s leading production networks, and the
Sustainable spaces for work, rest, and play: Climate resilient capital projects
Infrastructure and capital projects such as roads, bridges, buildings, and utilities are being affected by climate change in new ways. As leaders seek to invest in projects with long lifespans and pursue net zero targets that are decades away, long-term planning has become fraught with uncertainty. From electricity outages to flood-damaged roads, extreme weather is already impacting our built envi
Digital twins: Flying high and flexing fast
Having previously discussed the fundamentals of digital twins and the opportunities they offer, we’re expanding our exploration of digital twins with an examination of a look at how digital is helping transform application in product development. Join McKinsey partner Kimberly Borden and senior adviser Dr. Will Roper in a conversation about the value of digital technologies twins in production app
Digital twins: What could they do for your business?
The term ‘digital twin’ is fast becoming a bit of a buzzword used in discussions about digital transformation, but precise definitions are harder to come by. In this episode, we take a look at what is—and isn’t— within the boundaries of digital twin, the business advantages they can bring, and the requirements to capture the potential value. Join the conversation with Anna Herlt and Kimberly Borde
Inflation fighter and value creator: Procurement’s best kept secret
Most businesses around the world are being impacted by inflation today. As they have navigated turbulence over the last two years, the decades-old model of how goods are made, sourced, and delivered has been severely disrupted. With that backdrop reactive fire-fighting has become part of the norm for procurement functions and this is set to continue. But there is a way to get ahead of turbulence a
Inflation fighter and value creator: Procurement’s best kept secret
Most businesses around the world are being impacted by inflation today. As they have navigated turbulence over the last two years, the decades-old model of how goods are made, sourced, and delivered has been severely disrupted. With that backdrop reactive fire-fighting has become part of the norm for procurement functions and this is set to continue. But there is a way to get ahead of turbulence a
The hidden value of voice conversations: Part 2 – Reaping the rewards
Following on from our discussion of voice analytics trends and technology and its potential in contact centers in our previous episode, in this episode we learn more about its implementation and how to effectively capture the available value: How can voice data analytics add value throughout your whole organization?
Join the conversation with Paul Humphrey, CEO and founder of Call Journey; Eric B
The hidden value of voice conversations: Part 1 – Trends and technologies
High-quality, tailored interactions promote positive consumer experiences. And so in a digital age that can be lacking in emotional connection, human voice engagements can become a point of difference for contact centers.
In this episode, we discuss the wider trends related to voice interactions in customer care and the technologies that are available. Join the conversation with Paul Humphrey, CE
People and places: How and where to work next
When people began working from home, many executives feared that productivity would be lost. Instead, the reverse has proved true: for many employees, it has increased, thanks in part to the accelerated pace of digitization. As companies move to the next normal, they are looking for ways to maintain those gains through new hybrid working models enabled by digital technologies. There are decisions
How to manage the coming wave of investment in capital projects
Capital projects could receive around $130 trillion dollars over the next five years. Most of the investment will go to renew and decarbonize critical infrastructure. In this episode of The McKinsey Podcast, hear McKinsey senior partners Steffen Fuchs and Christoph Schmitz speak with executive editor, Roberta Fusaro about how executives and organizations will need to adapt their current spending s
Coca Cola: A people-led digital transformation
It's increasingly clear that there is a labor mismatch across industries and sectors. There is also a marked gap in the digital talent available in key frontline sectors such as truck drivers and line operators - only 1 percent of supply chain leaders report having sufficient talent in-house to support their increased digitization, that’s down from 10 percent in 2020. The pioneers of the Fourth In
Reaching net zero - what will it take?
Across industries, the great clean-up is underway. Driven by tightening regulations, pressure from investors, and shifting customer preferences, companies are striving to reduce the burden of their activities on the planet. Conventional wisdom has always been that reaching for Net Zero is a holy grail, only possible through heavy investments on the one side and sacrificing margins on the other. Ho
A digital path to sustainability
In the current geopolitical context, local manufacturing and supply chain resilience are becoming increasingly important. At the same time, organizations face an imperative to tackle environmental sustainability and climate change to strengthen operations and positively impact people and the planet. The Global Lighthouse Network – a World Economic Forum initiative in collaboration with McKinsey &a
Smart operators: how leading companies use machine intelligence
Making good use of data and analytics will not be done with any single bold move but through multiple coordinated actions. Despite the recent and significant advances in MI, the full scale of the opportunity is just beginning to unfold. In this episode, we discuss why some companies do better than others, what are the key performance indicators that can help categorise a company into leaders, plan
The Fourth Industrial Revolution will be people powered
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 22:45) > In this special edition of the McKinsey Talks Operations podcast, host Daphne Luchtenberg brings you highlights from a panel discussion on the importance of building workforce capabilities and shifting mindsets for successful digital transformation. The discussion took place recently as part of Lighthouses Live, the flagship event of
McKinsey Talks Operations - Trailer
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 1:09) > The new podcast from McKinsey’s Operations Practice explores cutting through the noise to transform strategy into lasting operations success 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
Supply Chain resilience—is there a holy grail?
Read more > Listen to the podcast (duration: 16:37) > In the McKinsey Operations Practice’s first podcast, Sebastian Peters, senior vice president and head of logistics, planning, and digital value stream for Airbus, speaks with McKinsey’s Daphne Luchtenberg and Knut Alicke on what it really means to have a risk-averse and resilient supply chain. McKinsey Talks Operations has much more
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