Take on Tomorrow

The world is full of uncertainties right now. But there’s also opportunity: a chance for reinvention on a global scale, for business and society to work together to create a future that’s inclusive, sustainable, and resilient.To learn more about that vision of the future, Take on Tomorrow is recording live from the APEC CEO Summit—the most influential annual gathering of business and political leaders from the Asia-Pacific rim’s 21 economies—where we’ll unpack some of the crucial discussions happening at this year’s event. PwC’s Sarah von Fischer is on the ground in Lima, Peru, where she’s joined by PwC’s Global Chairman Mohamed Kande, and Sintesa Group’s CEO Shinta Kamdani. The trio discuss the vital role the Asia-Pacific region plays in inclusive global growth, the impact of new technologies, and how to stay resilient in a shifting world.Take on Tomorrow is brought to you by strategy+business, a PwC publication © 2024 PwC. 

Consider this: more than half of the companies that were listed on the Fortune 500 in 2003 have since gone bankrupt, been acquired, or otherwise ceased to exist. And the question of survival is just as urgent for businesses today: 45% of respondents in PwC’s most recent Global CEO Survey said their company won’t be viable in ten years if it sticks to its current path. So how do businesses stay ahead of the curve, and make sure they’re still around in 20 years’ time? In this episode of Take on Tomorrow, hosts Lizzie O’Leary and Femi Oke are joined by Daniel Susskind, Research Professor in Economics at King’s College London, Senior Research Associate at Oxford University, and author of Growth: A Reckoning. Together, they look at how innovation and ideas can lay the groundwork for a new way to measure growth. PwC’s Global Business Model Reinvention Leader, Matthew Duffey, also joins the discussion to explain why companies need to innovate—sometimes completely reinventing their business models—if they’re to compete in the late 2020s and beyond. Take on Tomorrow is brought to you by strategy+business, a PwC publication © 2024 PwC.

Food is essential for our health, survival and social well-being.  But global food security is facing increased threats. Climate change, global tensions and supply chain disruptions mean our food systems are becoming more precarious. And as the global population grows, demand for food shows no signs of slowing. So, what role can businesses play in reimagining our food systems? And how can they help with the changes that will be required to secure our food supply for generations to come?    In this episode of Take on Tomorrow, hosts Lizzie O’Leary and Femi Oke are joined by Rob Cameron, Global Head of Environmental, Social, and Governance Engagement at Nestlé, to find out how the company is working to build more resilient food systems. They also talk to Stuti Sethi, a thought leader with Strategy&, PwC’s global strategy consulting business, about the roles of business and government in strengthening food systems—and why a combined effort is so important for the future of food.

Quantum computing could revolutionize how we live, and it's fast approaching reality—but is the world ready? Quantum computers use the laws of quantum mechanics to solve complex problems in seconds—making them far more powerful than the most advanced supercomputer. The possibilities seem limitless: it could help treat previously incurable diseases, help us make better informed decisions, and completely reinvent our ways of living.   The impact will be huge. So, how should business leaders navigate this unchartered territory? How can they invest in the right technology? How will workers learn to use it, and what are the benefits–and risks–to society? In this episode of Take on Tomorrow, hosts Lizzie O’Leary and Femi Oke talk with Caltech mathematical physicist Spiros Michalakis about the forthcoming quantum revolution and what it could mean for businesses and society, and PwC’s Global Chief AI Engineer Scott Likens weighs in on the business opportunities this new technology could bring.  

No one is untouched by the effects of climate change. That includes businesses of all sizes, which face the mounting risks of nature loss and a warming planet. But these challenges can also reveal opportunities. The transformation, and sometimes complete reinvention, of how a business functions could be just what’s needed to spark the new ways of thinking that will lead to green growth.       To tackle these issues—and launch Series 3 of Take on Tomorrow—we’ve recorded an episode live, on the ground, at Climate Week NYC.      Host Lizzie O’Leary talks with Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group, and Renate de Lange, PwC’s Global Sustainability Markets Leader, to hear how—despite the risks climate change presents—there’s still a huge opportunity to build greener, more successful, and more sustainable businesses that can thrive through the decades ahead.     Take on Tomorrow is brought to you by strategy+business, a PwC publication © 2024 PwC.  

Take on Tomorrow, the award-winning podcast from PwC’s management publication, strategy and business, returns on Friday 27 September for Series 3. Join hosts Lizzie O’Leary and Femi Oke and hear some of the brightest minds and boldest thinkers on how they’re tackling the greatest challenges facing the world. Follow Take on Tomorrow so you don’t miss an episode. 

Delving into the urgent need for businesses to strengthen their supply chains amidst geopolitical, environmental, and technological shifts. Discussing the challenges faced by global supply chains and the importance of resilience, technology integration, and collaboration. Exploring the evolution towards diversified sourcing strategies, technology-driven operations, and risk mitigation. Highlighting the trend towards localized and flexible supply chains, along with strategies for companies to embrace future opportunities and drive growth.

If cybercrime were a country, it would be the third-largest economy in the world after the US and China, according to the World Economic Forum. In the face of such a substantial and pervasive global challenge, generative AI is emerging as a tool to level the playing field—offering sophisticated capabilities for both cyberattackers and defenders. In this episode of Take on Tomorrow, Sarah Armstrong-Smith, Microsoft’s Chief Security Advisor in EMEA, is joined by Sean Joyce, PwC’s Global Cybersecurity and Privacy Leader. Together, they spotlight how organizations can leverage GenAI for cyber defense, where policymakers fit in, and what opportunities exist for companies that get cyber resilience right. 

Discussions include the need for sustainable cities to meet the needs of growing populations, the use of satellite data to measure environmental sustainability, the concept of smart cities, challenges and opportunities in Middle East urbanization, and the importance of justice, inclusion, and sustainability in smart cities.

CEOs' anxiety about the long-term viability of their business models, the impact of generative AI and climate change, strategies for keeping organizations future-ready, and PwC's top priorities for being 'reinvention ready'