Venture with Grace Lari Hamalainen, McKinsey Sr Partner on GenAI, Agentic & Tech Strategy
Nov 8, 2025
Lari Hamalainen, a Senior Partner at McKinsey and expert in GenAI and technology strategy, shares his insights on enterprise transformation. He discusses the differences between startups and established businesses, stressing the need for balance between reliability and innovation. Lari highlights the challenges of adopting AI tools, focusing on change management. He contrasts task automation with reimagining processes, plus offers strategies for startups to succeed in enterprise environments. He underscores the importance of building trust and the future of AI in business.
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From Demo Scene To McKinsey
- Lari began as a teenage programmer in the demo scene and later studied applied physics before joining Nokia as a platform engineer.
- He moved to McKinsey in 2005 to learn business after feeling frustrated with product-only work at Nokia.
Strategy Alone Is Not Enough
- McKinsey's role shifted from pure strategy to partnering on execution and driving measurable change with clients.
- Lari emphasizes combining strategy, technology, products, and field teams to deliver impact at scale.
Startups Versus Enterprises
- Startups operate under Darwinian urgency where product changes can make or break survival overnight.
- Large enterprises need stability and predictable change while steering a slow-moving 'ocean tanker'.
