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Inside the Strategy Room

Inside the Strategy Room

By: McKinsey & Company
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We talk with McKinsey partners and corporate executives on the challenges they face creating lasting strategies in a fast-changing world. We also examine the different ways these executives approach these challenges and the new and innovative ways they think of creating a vision for their enterprises.2025 McKinsey & Company Economics Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Investing in innovation: A pathway to resilient growth
    Dec 17 2025

    In times of economic volatility, the temptation to focus on short-term profitability can become a trap that stalls longer-term projects designed to spur growth. Yet as our long-standing research shows, companies that take a through-cycle approach to investing in growth and innovation consistently outperform their peers. In this episode, three innovation strategy and value creation experts share their latest research and tips for achieving resilient growth.

    Matt Banholzer is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Chicago office and co-leader of our Global Strategic Growth and Innovation Practice. Tim Koller is a partner in our Denver office and co-author of the best-selling book, Valuation: Measuring and Managing the Value of Companies, now in its eighth edition. And Laura LaBerge is a senior expert in our Strategic Growth and Innovation Practice and is based in our Connecticut office.

    Related insights

    Investing in innovation: Three ways to do more with less

    Innovation in a crisis: Why it is more critical than ever

    Revolutionary innovations propelling growth

    A bigger, bolder vision: How CROs are propelling growth from the C-suite

    How top performers use innovation to grow within and beyond the core

    How innovation can accelerate industry momentum

    The eight essentials of innovation

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    49 mins
  • 281. Pricing to create value across the private equity portfolio
    Dec 11 2025

    A small improvement in pricing can often drive greater value creation than larger cost or volume improvements. However, private equity (PE) funds face unique challenges in identifying and addressing pricing opportunities across diverse portfolio companies, often lacking the dedicated tools and expertise to do so effectively. In this episode, Brian Elliott, Jordan Jakubovitz, and Michelle Nguyen discuss how PE funds can address these challenges and achieve efficient growth.

    Brian Elliott is a senior partner in our New Jersey office and co-leads our pricing practice across all sectors. Brandon Heriford is a partner in our Atlanta office, and co-leads our Periscope B2B pricing solution with Brian. Michelle Nguyen is an associate partner in our New York office, and is a leader in our Private Capital Practice, and Dhruv Sriram is a consultant in our Atlanta office and a core member of our software and tech practice.

    Related insights

    Global Private Markets Report 2025: Braced for shifting weather

    How to navigate pricing during disinflationary times

    Pricing: The next frontier of value creation in private equity

    Is your pricing strategy cutting it?

    McKinsey Insights on Strategy & Corporate Finance

    McKinsey Strategy & Corporate Finance on LinkedIn

    McKinsey Insights on Private Capital

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    53 mins
  • 280. Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta on culture, strategy, and reinvention
    Dec 4 2025

    Chris Nassetta has served as President and CEO of Hilton since 2007, leading the organization through some extraordinary challenges. Chris’s focus on a sustainable growth model and a brand-led, network-driven strategy has enabled Hilton to cultivate 25 brands and serve more than 250 million travelers annually. In today’s episode, Chris discusses this journey with Eric Kutcher, our North America Chair and Senior Partner, and shares what he’s learned about leadership along the way. Looking ahead, he explains why AI is the greatest gift for Hilton to deliver what customers want, whenever and wherever they want it.

    Related Insights

    CEO For All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership

    CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest

    The Strategic CEO newsletter

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    47 mins
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