Clayton Christensen, the late Harvard Business School professor known for his disruptive innovation theory, and Dominic Barton, former McKinsey managing partner, delve into how McKinsey adapted to industry-wide disruption. They discuss the importance of flexibility and efficiency in consulting strategies. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by traditional firms against tech-driven market changes and illustrates the evolution of McKinsey Solutions. Their insights shed light on the urgency for consulting firms to innovate and collaborate with academia for sustained success.

Dominic Barton, board chair for Rio Tinto and former Canadian ambassador to China, joins Frithjof Lund, a McKinsey senior partner in corporate governance, and Ziad Haider, a specialist in geopolitical risk. They dive into how boards can navigate complex geopolitical landscapes. The conversation highlights the importance of proactive risk management, creating dedicated units for geopolitical insights, and the evolving roles of non-executive directors. They stress the need for structured frameworks and transparency in addressing uncertainties while aligning board and executive strategies.

Dominic Barton, the global managing partner of McKinsey&Company, discusses the firm’s sustainability efforts. He talks about the wake-up call he got about sustainability and how he tries to convince CEOs hesitant to make it part of their business model that doing so will improve company performance. He says he sees companies thinking about the environment. “But the speed and scale of what we need to do — I don’t think it’s sufficient.”