The McKinsey Crossword: Solve Quicker! | No. 39

Sharpen your problem-solving skills the McKinsey way, with our weekly crossword. Each puzzle is created with the McKinsey audience in mind, and includes a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) business theme for you to find. Answers that are directionally correct may not cut it if you’re looking for a quick win.
The McKinsey Crossword: Solve Quicker! | No. 39

Author Talks: Power, for all

Having power can lead to hubris and self-focus. But it doesn’t have to. By understanding power, we can use it constructively.
Author Talks: Power, for all

Project delivery hubs: Analytics for better megaproject outcomes

By providing tailored project-delivery intelligence to decision makers, an analytics hub can reduce risk and increase the odds of successful completion.
Project delivery hubs: Analytics for better megaproject outcomes

China’s uneven travel recovery: Long road to international travel furthers domestic opportunities

There is a silver lining to continued barriers to China’s outbound travel—the domestic market is witnessing an upswing in travelers looking to explore new destinations and experiences.
China’s uneven travel recovery: Long road to international travel furthers domestic opportunities

Managing change on many fronts: How Northwestern Mutual beat the odds

Senior executives Tim Gerend and Christian Mitchell share insights on how they collaborate with the company’s independent advisors to transform financial planning.
Managing change on many fronts: How Northwestern Mutual beat the odds

Understanding the ever-evolving, always-surprising consumer

With consumer behavior changing rapidly—and, often, in unexpected ways—companies must get better at anticipating and responding to new consumer needs and preferences. Our experts explain how.
Understanding the ever-evolving, always-surprising consumer

High-stakes innovation: An interview with a cultivated-meat pioneer

Cultivated meat is meat—but is created by a process so different from conventional meat, it has revolutionary potential, says Didier Toubia, cofounder and CEO of cultivated-meat start-up Aleph Farms.
High-stakes innovation: An interview with a cultivated-meat pioneer

CHRO perspectives on leading agile change

CHROs across industries and regions came together virtually to discuss the impact and the challenges of leading an agile transformation journey.
CHRO perspectives on leading agile change

Common goods: Fighting materials’ impact on climate change

The materials used to make physical goods produce a large share of greenhouse gas emissions. Origin Materials thinks it has the solution to that pressing problem.
Common goods: Fighting materials’ impact on climate change

Boards, talent, and culture

Boards need to ensure that management walks the talk on culture and values.
Boards, talent, and culture

An ecosystem of partners: The foundation of capital project excellence

To deliver large capital projects in heavy industry more efficiently, project owners can consider forming an ecosystem of partners and fundamentally rethinking ways of working together.
An ecosystem of partners: The foundation of capital project excellence

Moderna’s path to vaccine innovation: A talk with CEO Stéphane Bancel

Moderna’s delivery of a COVID-19 vaccine comes on the heels of revolutionary science that may accelerate innovation across the industry well into the future.
Moderna’s path to vaccine innovation: A talk with CEO Stéphane Bancel

Author Talks: April Rinne on finding calm and meaning in a world of flux

When change is the only constant, a mindset shift can keep you grounded.
Author Talks: April Rinne on finding calm and meaning in a world of flux

Infographic: Biotech in Europe: Driving the next act

How can biotechs and investors succeed in the future? To scale up innovation, industry stakeholders need to focus on several key areas.
Infographic: Biotech in Europe: Driving the next act

Registered investment advisors: How US banks can weigh the M&A potential

RIAs are a profitable and growing segment in US wealth management. Valuations are high, but this should not deter banks from carefully exploring acquisitions.
Registered investment advisors: How US banks can weigh the M&A potential

Defying cost volatility: A strategic pricing response

While input cost increases and volatility are challenging, they present an opportunity to improve pricing and institutionalize best practices—but margins will likely suffer if these are not executed in a strategic way.
Defying cost volatility: A strategic pricing response

Tapping digital’s full potential in pulp and paper process optimization

While many pulp and paper companies have been automated for years, they are only now starting to reap the full potential of digital technologies.
Tapping digital’s full potential in pulp and paper process optimization

The McKinsey Crossword: What’s the Scoop? | No. 38

Sharpen your problem-solving skills the McKinsey way, with our weekly crossword. Each puzzle is created with the McKinsey audience in mind, and includes a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) business theme for you to find. Answers that are directionally correct may not cut it if you’re looking for a quick win.
The McKinsey Crossword: What’s the Scoop? | No. 38

McKinsey for Kids: I, Robot? What technology shifts mean for tomorrow’s jobs

Tomorrow’s jobs will look different from today’s—and not just because you might be working alongside robots. In this edition of McKinsey for Kids, peer into the future of work and what it may hold for you, whether you’re thinking about becoming a doctor, an influencer—or a garbage designer.
McKinsey for Kids: I, Robot? What technology shifts mean for tomorrow’s jobs

The future of payments in the Middle East

As cash transactions give way to digital, what changes can the region’s banks and payments providers expect to see in the next few years?
The future of payments in the Middle East

Can companies build on their digital surge?

Many businesses have boosted digital sales in the pandemic, but it will take a new commitment to speed to keep up with the digital leaders.
Can companies build on their digital surge?

What’s going on with shipping rates?

McKinsey’s Steve Saxon and Jaana Remes discuss why container shipping costs are surging and give their take on what lies ahead for the industry.
What’s going on with shipping rates?

Helping unemployed women find work in uncertain times

How the CEO of UK charity Smart Works is able to meet its clients’ changing needs during an unprecedented job market.
Helping unemployed women find work in uncertain times

The insurance trends private-equity investors should understand in 2021

The uncertainty that plagued the industry in 2020 is clearing. Here’s where performance is trending—and how private-equity investors can double down.
The insurance trends private-equity investors should understand in 2021

Increased workforce turnover and pressures straining provider operations

Private sector hospital leaders are tackling ways to address challenges and boost the US healthcare workforce.
Increased workforce turnover and pressures straining provider operations

Infographic: The McKinsey Biotech Innovation Index

Europe may be catching up with the United States in biotech innovation and funding. Its overall score on the Biotech Innovation Index improved by 20 percent in 2015–17 and 2018–20.
Infographic: The McKinsey Biotech Innovation Index

Implications of the ‘energy transition’ across the machinery value chain

End-market customer concerns about the environment and sustainability—fueled by stakeholder pressure—are prompting the machinery industry to focus on energy transition across the value chain.
Implications of the ‘energy transition’ across the machinery value chain

Preparing for the flood: How packaging companies can catch the postpandemic wave of new product launches

As the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate a significant increase in new product launches driven by changing megatrends. Five strategic areas of focus can help packaging companies position themselves for success.
Preparing for the flood: How packaging companies can catch the postpandemic wave of new product launches

Winning formula: How Europe’s top tech start-ups get it right

We studied Europe’s top 1,000 start-ups to learn how they succeed in the region’s fragmented value pool and found the answers lie in four distinct strategic plays.
Winning formula: How Europe’s top tech start-ups get it right

EV fluids: Say goodbye to the oil change

With the rise of electric vehicles, the massive combustion engine fluids market will slowly begin to evaporate. Here’s what will replace it.
EV fluids: Say goodbye to the oil change

The McKinsey Crossword: “Show Me the Money!” | No. 37

Sharpen your problem-solving skills the McKinsey way, with our weekly crossword. Each puzzle is created with the McKinsey audience in mind, and includes a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) business theme for you to find. Answers that are directionally correct may not cut it if you’re looking for a quick win.
The McKinsey Crossword: “Show Me the Money!” | No. 37

Tech-driven insurers: How to thrive in 2030

Insurance operating models are on the verge of a fundamental change. To thrive in 2030, insurers must commit to a specific role and take action now to secure the tech capabilities they need.
Tech-driven insurers: How to thrive in 2030

How banks can build their future workforce—today

During the pandemic, some banks have learned to reskill, at scale. Here, they share their secrets.
How banks can build their future workforce—today

Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, July 2021

Industrial activity strengthens and consumer demand returns while inflation accelerates; the pandemic wave worsens significantly
Global Economics Intelligence executive summary, July 2021

A $300 billion opportunity: Serving the emerging Black American consumer

There’s a big market to be unearthed if companies meet the real needs of Black consumers.
A $300 billion opportunity: Serving the emerging Black American consumer

Much anew about ‘nudging’

Almost 15 years after introducing a critical choice-making framework, behavioral economists Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler reflect on its continuing impact on business and society.
Much anew about ‘nudging’

The role of personalization in the care journey: An example of patient engagement to reduce readmissions

A personalized care approach can help consumers manage in a COVID-19 era, as well as potentially reduce unnecessary healthcare costs.
The role of personalization in the care journey: An example of patient engagement to reduce readmissions

Fueling innovation and filling gaps in Latin America

A lack of early stage capital on the continent has hampered start-up creation and scaling. MAYA Capital co-founders Lara Lemann and Monica Saggioro are determined to change that.
Fueling innovation and filling gaps in Latin America

Prioritizing sustainability in the consumer sector

Consumers and companies alike are becoming more interested in making sustainability-focused choices, but how to do so isn’t always clear. Two McKinsey partners provide some research-based insights.
Prioritizing sustainability in the consumer sector

Infographic: Building the European biotech sector with world-class science and innovation

Europe is a powerhouse in scientific publishing with roughly twice the output of the United States and three times that of China.
Infographic: Building the European biotech sector with world-class science and innovation

Rewiring car electronics and software architecture for the ‘Roaring 2020s’

Software will be what differentiates players in the automotive industry within a few years. Incumbents must make significant shifts in technology, competitive dynamics, and talent.
Rewiring car electronics and software architecture for the ‘Roaring 2020s’

The cloud transformation engine

Some 15 years into the cloud revolution, it’s clear that there’s tremendous value enabled by adopting cloud—more than $1 trillion just for Fortune 500 companies.
The cloud transformation engine

How Japan could reach carbon neutrality by 2050

And why it must start now.
How Japan could reach carbon neutrality by 2050

Organizational cyber maturity: A survey of industries

Ours is proving to be the century of cyber insecurity, yet few organizations have made sufficient progress in protecting information assets.
Organizational cyber maturity: A survey of industries

Government transformations in times of extraordinary change: Key considerations for public-sector leaders

An equal focus on performance and organizational health can help large-scale government overhauls succeed.
Government transformations in times of extraordinary change: Key considerations for public-sector leaders

The postpandemic board agenda: Redefining corporate resilience

As boards move beyond crisis management, survey results suggest that specific risks and organizational issues are increasingly top of mind.
The postpandemic board agenda: Redefining corporate resilience

Inbound freight: The savings opportunity chemical players overlook

As procurement sophistication increases, inbound freight—which makes up about 10 percent of raw-material spend—may offer the best opportunity for further savings in the chemicals industry and beyond.
Inbound freight: The savings opportunity chemical players overlook

SaaS and the Rule of 40: Keys to the critical value creation metric

Investors reward SaaS companies that hit this operating performance marker, yet a surprisingly small number have been able to do so. Here’s how more can follow their industry leaders’ example.
SaaS and the Rule of 40: Keys to the critical value creation metric

Automotive semiconductors for the autonomous age

The rise of autonomous vehicles is shifting demand for automotive chips and prompting OEMs to consider in-house design. How could this reconfigure value chains across industries?
Automotive semiconductors for the autonomous age

Managing project portfolios to unlock trapped capital

The COVID-19 pandemic has led many businesses to try to minimize short-term capital outlay; considerable capital can be unlocked by rethinking the way project risk is recognized and funded.
Managing project portfolios to unlock trapped capital

The McKinsey Crossword: “Ooh! Ooh!” | No. 35

Sharpen your problem-solving skills the McKinsey way, with our weekly crossword. Each puzzle is created with the McKinsey audience in mind, and includes a subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) business theme for you to find. Answers that are directionally correct may not cut it if you’re looking for a quick win.
The McKinsey Crossword: “Ooh! Ooh!” | No. 35

In volatile markets, embedded product costs can be a hidden treasure

Raw-material and component costs are on a wild ride. Procurement and product-development teams can keep their grip by better understanding and managing embedded costs. A new approach can help.
In volatile markets, embedded product costs can be a hidden treasure

Future proof: Solving the ‘adaptability paradox’ for the long term

Just when leaders need fresh thinking and decisiveness, they tend to fall back on tried-and-true ways. Five actions can transform your relationship with uncertainty and help you thrive.
Future proof: Solving the ‘adaptability paradox’ for the long term