Take on Tomorrow

Big breakthrough innovations are on the horizon, and they could be coming from an unlikely place. We’re talking about the sort of ideas that would reshape how we move, the medical treatments we receive, and how we adapt to the changing climate and generate new kinds of energy—and they could all stem from a space not typically associated with innovation: the government. Rethinking the public sector’s role in innovation—and how it works together with private industry—may be key to solving the world’s most pressing challenges and improving people’s lives.In this episode of Take on Tomorrow, hosts Lizzie O’Leary and Femi Oke talk to Rafael Laguna de la Vera, Director of Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND), about why governments should be funding innovation across industries. Plus: Frederik Blachetta, Public Sector Data & AI Leader from PwC Germany, talks to us about how business can work alongside government to drive positive change.Take on Tomorrow is brought to you by strategy+business, a PwC publication © 2025 PwC.

Throughout this special series, we’ve been exploring what happens to business and society when people try to do things differently. But without the funding to pay for that change, real progress can stall. In this episode, we’ll look at the way projects are financed and how it’s unlocking innovation and new partnerships across industries. Hosts Femi Oke and Lizzie O’Leary are following the money into the world of data centers—massive investments requiring trillions of dollars—to uncover how this backbone of our digital lives is built and paid for. We’ll hear from Udhay Mathialagan, Managing Partner in Brookfield’s Infrastructure Group and the CEO of their Global Data Center Group, about why the company’s focusing on the infrastructure that runs AI systems. Plus: Eric Janson, Global Private Equity and Principal Investors Leader, PwC US, helps us dig into creative financing models, the evolving role of financial services, and why capital is the quiet force reshaping entire industries. Take on Tomorrow is brought to you by strategy+business, a PwC publication © 2025 PwC. 

Farmers produce, traders distribute, manufacturers process, retailers sell, and governments regulate. And it all comes together so that we can eat each day. But this delicate, complex global system is under immense pressure. Drought and heat stress threaten crops. Geopolitical crises, population growth, and global food waste mean the hunt is on for new solutions. In the decade ahead, feeding the world will require fundamentally different partnerships. So what new business models, products, and services will emerge?    In this episode of our special Take on Tomorrow series, hosts Lizzie O’Leary and Femi Oke speak to Mihir Pershad, the founder and CEO of Umami Bioworks, a food technology startup that develops lab-grown seafood such as cultivated eel and tuna. Meanwhile, Carla DeSantis, PwC US Consumer Packaged Goods Leader, explains how humanity can completely reimagine food.  Take on Tomorrow is brought to you by strategy+business, a PwC publication © 2025 PwC.   

Robin Chase, cofounder of Zipcar, and Heiko Seitz, PwC's Global eMobility Leader, explore the exciting future of mobility. They discuss the urgent need for decarbonization amidst climate challenges and how urbanization is reshaping transport. Chase highlights the inefficiency of car ownership and the importance of multimodal solutions, while Seitz emphasizes the role of government in building electric vehicle infrastructure. Together, they envision a future where lighter, more inclusive transport systems reduce emissions and improve access for everyone.

Emanuel Heisenberg, CEO and founder of Ecoworks, introduces his groundbreaking concept of adding a 'second skin' to buildings, enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability. Greg Oberti, a partner at PwC Canada, discusses forming strategic partnerships across industries to tackle the challenges in construction. They delve into how technology, including robotics and AI, is set to revolutionize renovation practices while addressing labor displacement. With innovative collaborations, the future of building promises to create better living conditions and value.

In this engaging conversation, Ali Hashemi, CEO of meta[bolic] and a health-tech investor focused on diabetes treatment, teams up with India Hardy, Global Health Industries Partner at PwC UK. They explore the urgent need for healthcare transformation, emphasizing personalized care through technology. The duo discusses how innovative partnerships can enhance patient experiences and engage them more actively in their health. They envision a future where empathy and digital advancements coexist to create effective and equitable care solutions.

Thomas Raffeiner, CEO of The Mobility House, pioneers technology that integrates vehicle batteries into the power grid, revolutionizing energy management. Jeroen van Hoof, PwC’s Global Energy Leader, shares insights on how businesses can adapt to renewable energy and embrace collaboration. They discuss the rise of bidirectional charging in electric vehicles, which enhances grid stability and offers cost savings. The conversation highlights the necessity of innovative solutions that connect the automotive and energy sectors for a sustainable future.

Discover how the global economy will transform over the next decade. The discussion covers emerging technologies, climate challenges, and innovative collaboration across industries. Learn about the evolution of basic human needs and how businesses will adapt to meet them. Meet innovators pushing boundaries to tackle societal challenges. Explore the interplay of government, capital, and technology driving this reconfiguration in ways that promise exciting future possibilities for business and society.

There are strong forces at play right now—deep and profound trends such as technological disruption and social instability, that are changing our lives and the world around us. Business leaders can’t ignore these megatrends. But what actions are they taking? How can they plan amid a constantly shifting landscape? We’ve gathered insights from thousands of CEOs around the world to try to learn what they’re thinking about the big issues—from GenAI to climate change to the need for reinvention—and what it all could mean for the global economy. And we’ve mined the results to see what they can reveal about the future—what it will take for companies to prosper, and how to avoid being left behind.In this episode of Take on Tomorrow, recorded live in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, PwC’s Sarah von Fischer is joined by Carol Stubbings, PwC’s Global Chief Commercial Officer, and Paul Griggs, PwC US Senior Partner. The trio discuss the findings of PwC’s 28th Annual Global CEO Survey and ask: what does it take to thrive in an uncertain world?   Take on Tomorrow is brought to you by strategy+business, a PwC publication © 2025 PwC. 

AI is being embedded in everything we do, from the way our cities operate to how we live and work. Information, decision-making, and problem-solving are all being transformed. Enter the “AI agent,” here to help people work smarter and more productively. But will people trust this rapidly evolving technology? And what happens if that trust erodes? Business and society are working to navigate the myriad challenges AI presents—and to answer a big question: how can we work to build responsible AI in the age of agentic AI?   In this episode, recorded live at the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, PwC’s Sarah von Fisher is joined by PwC’s Matt Wood, Global and US Commercial Technology & Innovation Officer. They discuss what the age of agentic AI looks like and what leaders can do to make sure the technology is deployed ethically, and with accountability and transparency—as AI becomes more engrained in our everyday lives.  Take on Tomorrow is brought to you by strategy+business, a PwC publication © 2024 PwC.