Leading Professional People cover image

Leading Professional People

Partnership versus Corporate

Feb 22, 2021
Sir Ian Davis, former Global Managing Partner of McKinsey and now Chairman of Rolls-Royce plc, discusses the differences and similarities between leadership in partnerships and corporations. Topics include the challenges of growth and scale in partnerships, hiring and culture in professional firms, balancing autonomy and management in partner relationships, the power of informal and formal power, seeking feedback, and debating growth versus shrinkage in professional management consulting.
41:42

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Maintaining a partnership culture while growing is possible through careful management and involving the younger generation in decision-making.
  • A successful partnership culture requires allowing partners autonomy while maintaining cohesion and avoiding chaos.

Deep dives

Maintaining Partnership Culture in a Growing Firm

Sir Ian Davis, former Global Managing Partner of McKinsey, discusses the debate on whether a partnership culture can be maintained in a growing firm. He shares that many partners at McKinsey were committed to preserving the partnership culture, even if it meant resisting growth. However, he believes that maintaining a partnership culture while growing is possible through careful management and an apprenticeship culture. He emphasises the importance of involving the younger generation in decision-making and creating subcultures within the firm. Sir Ian also highlights the significance of trust, collective accountability, and social adhesion in a strong partnership culture.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode