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The So What from BCG

The So What from BCG

Boston Consulting Group BCG 130 Episodes Sep 8, 2026

This podcast from Boston Consulting Group looks around the corner of today’s big business and social issues. The goal–the so what–is to make sense of today and prepare busy leaders and executives for the day after tomorrow. Award-winning British journalist Georgie Frost interviews the leading thinkers and doers at BCG on the trends, developments, and ideas that will shape and disrupt the future. This is not your typical business strategy podcast.

Episodes

Will AI Agents Replace Your CRM?
Will AI Agents Replace Your CRM? Sep 8, 2026 19:39 Bryan Gauch, Leader of BCG’s Commercial Tech Topic, explains why CRM isn’t disappearing even as agentic AI reshapes how customers are served. He argues that CRM will keep serving as the data backbone while agents take over the interface. He also lays out the cost and resourcing questions CEOs need to answer before scaling their AI investment.You’ll Learn:Why agents are quietly replacing the screen
AI Costs a Fortune. Mismanaging AI Will Cost You More.
AI Costs a Fortune. Mismanaging AI Will Cost You More. Aug 25, 2026 19:53 Vlad Lukic, BCG’s global leader for tech and digital advantage, and Paul Goydan, global leader of BCG’s cost offer, explain why so many companies spend more on AI than they get back. What is the fix? They argue it isn’t simply cutting AI spend, but assigning clear ownership, categorizing costs correctly, and tying every dollar to a business outcome.You’ll Learn:Business owners, not IT, should be a
Is Your AI Rollout Built to Fail?
Is Your AI Rollout Built to Fail? Aug 11, 2026 24:36 Kristy Ellmer and Julia Dhar, co-authors of How Change Really Works and founders of BCG’s Behavioral Science Lab, explain why so many transformations fail and what the science says separates success from failure. They break down the “messy middle,” why people resist being changed rather than change itself, and how giving employees real agency turns resistance into momentum.What You’ll Learn:Why “f
Retailers Are Drowning in Data. Is AI a Life Preserver?
Retailers Are Drowning in Data. Is AI a Life Preserver? Jul 28, 2026 16:50 Nick Goad, BCG's global co-leader for retail merchandising, argues that retail's biggest problem isn't a lack of data, it's the gap between data and real customer understanding. He explains how AI and large language models are finally bridging that divide, making it possible to localize assortment, sharpen pricing, and accelerate product innovation at scale. For leaders wondering where to start, h
LLM or MD: Who Owns the Patient Journey?
LLM or MD: Who Owns the Patient Journey? Jul 14, 2026 21:17 Ben Keneally, BCG’s Asia Pacific health care services leader, explains why AI is now many patients’ first stop — often before they see a doctor. He argues that pairing AI with personal health records improves outcomes and equity, and that health leaders, not LLMs, must shape how this shift unfolds.You’ll Learn:Why AI is becoming the default first step in care, especially in markets with limited ac
AI Is Ready for Government. Is Government Ready?
AI Is Ready for Government. Is Government Ready? Jun 30, 2026 21:48 Governments are racing to deploy AI. Most have the foundations, but struggle to translate them into faster, smarter execution without losing public trust. BCG's Miguel Carrasco and Daniel Selikowitz break down what separates the countries getting this right from those still stuck — and what every leader can take from their example.You’ll Learn:Why AI governance frameworks are quietly becoming the
Industry 4.0 Moves to the Great Outdoors
Industry 4.0 Moves to the Great Outdoors Jun 16, 2026 20:29 Industry 4.0 is moving beyond factory walls and into farms, forests, and fields.David Potere, a senior tech leader in BCG’s Industrial Goods and Climate Change and Sustainability practices, explores AI’s move into the outdoor world. Robotics and connected systems are changing how farming and other outdoor activities get done.You’ll Learn:Outdoor automation requires AI systems that can operate with
Why Doomsayers Are Wrong About AI Job Loss
Why Doomsayers Are Wrong About AI Job Loss Jun 2, 2026 22:44 AI isn’t replacing jobs the way headlines suggest, but it is changing who keeps them.Greg Emerson, BCG’s global leader of technology and AI investing, explains why AI will reshape three to four times more jobs than it replaces. He argues that fears of mass unemployment are overblown and the real challenge for leaders is redesigning roles, workflows, and mindsets.You’ll Learn:The real risk: workers
CEOs Gamble When They Plan for Just One Future
CEOs Gamble When They Plan for Just One Future May 19, 2026 17:11 Navigating uncertainty means one thing: flexibility beats prediction.Nikolaus Lang, global leader of the BCG Henderson Institute, looks 25 years into the future, breaking down what four plausible scenarios mean for GDP growth, work hours, and defense spending. He explains what CEOs can do today to prepare for the faraway future.You’ll Learn:How scenarios connect uncertainty to revenue, risk, and s
How AI is Transforming Sales—and What To Do
How AI is Transforming Sales—and What To Do May 5, 2026 19:42 Sales teams are no longer defined by a few superstar performers. Japjit Ghai, who leads BCG’s AI efforts for sales globally, explains how AI is reshaping the entire sales workflow—from lead prioritization to real-time coaching and closing the deal. Winners won’t bolt on tools. They’ll integrate AI and agents from end to end.Learn More:Japjit Ghai: https://on.bcg.com/48IzJiVHow AI Agents Will Trans
What’s Keeping CEOs Up at Night?
What’s Keeping CEOs Up at Night? Apr 21, 2026 22:19 BCG CEO Insomnia Index–Understanding CEO Pressure: More than 70% of CEOs are under chronic stress—but the real sources might surprise you.Drawing on BCG’s CEO Insomnia Index, Judith Wallenstein and Christine Barton unpack what’s driving the pressure, why it’s coming from closer than expected, and how it’s starting to impact decision-making at the top. While performance, growth, and cost pressures
Leading Through Scarcity: Purpose Over Panic
Leading Through Scarcity: Purpose Over Panic Apr 7, 2026 25:02 CEO lessons for navigating constant change: When resources are tight and uncertainty is high, what keeps organizations moving forward? New Jersey Performing Art Center CEO John Schreiber and BCG’s Rishi Varma share how purpose-led strategy, prioritization, and the right partnerships drive growth. Clear, actionable plans grounded in mission give leaders a north star, helping them stay focused and m

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