McKinsey Talks Operations COO Excellence: the next generation of leadership
20 snips
Jan 16, 2026 Join Darryl Piasecki, a McKinsey partner steering the COO Excellence initiative, and Tony Gambell, who translates strategy into actionable plans, as they dive into the evolving role of COOs. They explore why COOs are crucial for modern organizations, discussing essential priorities like vision, stakeholder relationships, and talent management. The duo shares insights on balancing conflicting priorities and emphasizes the importance of a strong personal operating model. With actionable advice, they guide COOs on building high-impact leadership strategies.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Operations Deliver Strategy
- Operations is the mechanism that delivers strategy and must be grounded in business context.
- A clear, measurable vision tied to business outcomes is essential before any execution plan.
Five Pillars For A COO Agenda
- Build your COO agenda around five pillars: vision, plan, relationships, talent, and personal operating model.
- Use these pillars to structure priorities and communicate the mandate clearly.
Start With A Measurable Vision
- Start by articulating a vision that is measurable, linked to strategy, and clear to adjacent functions.
- Translate that vision into a time‑horizon plan with tactical early wins and longer strategic moves.