McKinsey Talks Operations

Global Business Services (GBS) is being redefined in the age of AI. Agentic technology is enabling GBS to move beyond traditional automation and expand as it becomes the operational backbone of AI transformation in many organizations. So what should organizations think about the future of GBS to come out ahead? In this episode, Christian Johnson speaks with McKinsey partners Heiko Heimes and Josh...

Supply chain leaders have invested heavily in technology over the last few decades and were among the earliest adopters of AI. Yet despite 90% of companies reporting AI use, only 7% have successfully scaled it. For many, supply chain execution remains manual, fragmented, and slow. What separates the companies that have scaled AI from the 90% still stuck in pilot purgatory? And why aren't more orga...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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 p...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...