The So What from BCG

The So What from BCG

This podcast from Boston Consulting Group looks around the corner of today’s big business and social issues. The goal–the so what–is to make sense of today and prepare busy leaders and executives for the day after tomorrow. Award-winning British journalist Georgie Frost interviews the leading thinkers and doers at BCG on the trends, developments, and ideas that will shape and disrupt the future. This is not your typical business strategy podcast. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Episodes

December 30, 2025 26 mins

Rich Lesser, BCG’s global chair, and Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, reflect on the shocks and surprises that shaped the first half of the decade and what they reveal about the future. They explore the traits leaders need today: building trust, staying geopolitically aware, and adopting AI in a people-centered way.

Learn More:

Rich Lesser: https://on.bcg.com/4lZrWla

Martin Reeves: https://on.bcg.com/4lXaAVX

Winn...

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Many companies have a blind spot when it comes to serving women. In fields from health care to financial services, they often treat women just like men—even though their needs are very different. BCG’s Alex Friedman and Trish Stroman share tangible steps leaders can take today to better serve women—who are responsible for up to 80% of spending. Organizations that are best positioned won't guess wh...

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Help us celebrate our very own Georgie Frost, who earned the Bronze Lovie Award for Best Podcast Host thanks to her outstanding work on The So What from BCG!

Georgie was also a finalist for the People’s Lovie Award for Best Podcast Host.

The Lovie Awards are the European cousin of the Webby Awards, celebrating the best of the best across the continent.

If you’d like to send a warm note, a congratulatory message, or simply an email f...

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What happens when AI meets your most human processes like hiring, feedback, and development? Alicia Pittman, BCG’s global people chair, shares how the firm uses AI to amplify human strengths, not replace them. From building trust to rethinking management roles, she offers a roadmap for leaders navigating AI-powered change. 

 

Learn More: 

Alicia Pittman: https://on.bcg.com/4pcZ2Qs 

BCG’s Latest Thinking on People St...

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Consumer companies are facing a new reality: demand is maturing, competition is intensifying, and generational preferences are diverging. Justin Vincent, part of BCG’s leadership team for consumer and fashion, explains how businesses can avoid fading into the background by choosing a durable purpose, serving real consumer needs, and mastering digital discovery. 

Learn More: 

  • BCG’s Latest Thinkin...
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November 4, 2025 20 mins

Medtech is a $900 billion industry transforming how we treat, diagnose, and prevent disease—but its innovation engine is slowing. Vikram Aggarwal, global leader of BCG’s medical technology work, explains what’s behind the slowdown and how leaders can rethink regulation, software, and talent to re-accelerate breakthroughs. 

 

Learn More: 

Vikram Aggarwal: https://on.bcg.com/4osjpc6 

BCG ...

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October 28, 2025 15 mins

AI is rising on the agendas of global CEOs, according to the latest edition of the CEO Radar. But a surprising number of chief executives are still struggling to embed the technology into their businesses. On this episode of the CEO Radar Podcast, Edward Adams of Bloomberg Media Studios is joined by BCG Global Chair Rich Lesser and Vlad Lukić, BCG Global Leader of Tech and Digital Advantage, to explore how CEOs can compare themselv...

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October 21, 2025 23 mins

Space isn’t just for rockets and research anymore. Satellite technology drives precision navigation, automation, and connectivity—quietly powering everything from farming to finance. Troy Thomas, BCG’s global lead for space business, explains why CEOs need a deliberate space strategy to stay ahead of disruption and unlock new growth.  

 

Learn More: 

Troy Thomas: https://on.bcg.com/4qhq5ea 

BCG on the Space Sec...

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The like button is more than a symbol — it’s a case study in how innovation really happens. Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute and co-author of Like: The Button That Changed the World, unpacks the messy, social, and often surprising process behind major breakthroughs — and what leaders can learn from it as they navigate the AI era. 

Learn More:  

Martin Reeves: https://on.bcg.com/4pWlAph 

Like: ...

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September 23, 2025 18 mins

AI and data help tell us what people do, but not why. Lauren Taylor, global leader of BCG’s Center for Customer Insight, makes sense of the mixed signals that consumers give off. To truly understand what drives people, businesses of course value robust, real-time data. But they also must uncover the context, motivators, and human truth behind every choice. 

Learn More:

Lauren Taylor: https://on.bcg.com/4nfwZ1A 

BCG’s Latest ...

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M&A activity is waking up, but many companies are reluctant to leap into the fray. Daniel Friedman, BCG’s global leader of transactions and integrations, explains why bold moves now could pay off. Waiting may feel safe, but the cost could be forfeiting once-in-a-decade opportunities. 

Learn More: 

Daniel Friedman: https://on.bcg.com/4mWHyGW 

Mid-2025 M&A Insights: https://on.bcg.com/3V6ENGF 

BCG’s Latest Thi...

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Transformation isn’t a gamble—it’s science. Kristy Ellmer, a leader with BCG Transform, unpacks the research behind what really makes change work: involving employees in the journey, preparing for the “messy middle,” and building emotional and practical support into the process. Successful efforts focus equally on shifting behaviors and mindsets, not just strategy and structure.  

Learn More: 

Kristy Ellmer: https://ww...

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What happens when people live decades longer than before—but not necessarily healthier? Iana Kouris, customer experience leader at BCG X, explores how companies can help people live longer healthier. Businesses can jumpstart the longevity economy by leveraging CX, behavioral design and change management to develop new products for prevention and customized for the growing elderly population, as well as supporting their employees on...

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July 29, 2025 17 mins

Private equity is under pressure to deliver returns in a tougher environment. Clark O’Niell, BCG’s global lead for AI infrastructure and cyber in the private investors & private equity practice, shares how the smartest investors are using AI to move beyond hype, drive impact at scale, and future-proof their portfolios. It’s about focus over fragmentation—and combining judgment with new tools. 

 

Learn More: 

Clark O...

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July 15, 2025 26 mins

Rich Lesser, BCG’s global chair, and Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute, reflect on the shocks and surprises that shaped the first half of the decade and what they reveal about the future. They explore the traits leaders need today: building trust, staying geopolitically aware, and adopting AI in a people-centered way. 

 

Learn More: 

Rich Lesser: https://on.bcg.com/4lZrWla 

Martin Reeves: https:...

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July 1, 2025 20 mins

Europe is at a tipping point after years of slow growth. Sylvain Duranton, BCG X’s global leader, explains how countries and companies can work together to simplify regulation, scale innovation, and build a truly unified, competitive Europe. 

 

Learn More: 

Sylvain Duranton:https://on.bcg.com/3T9QN9b 

Europe’s Business Leaders Are Ready for Action: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/global-trade-disruption-wake-up-call-...

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June 17, 2025 24 mins

The role of the CEO is both powerful and punishing. Christine Barton, BCG’s CEO Advisory lead in North America, explores how to make the job more fulfilling. It starts with clarity of purpose, building the right leadership team, and minimizing activities that are time and energy sinkholes.

Learn More: 

Christine Barton: https://on.bcg.com/4n4CyAk 

BCG’s Insights for CEOs: https://on.bcg.com/4l6jujg 

Moves Only a CEO Can ...

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Justin Manly, BCG’s lead on growth and innovation, explains how businesses can choose the right growth strategy given their aspirations and position in the market. Whether a company is gaining or losing share, in a booming or sluggish industry, profitable growth depends on knowing your starting point. 

Learn More: 

Justin Manly: https://on.bcg.com/4kGYyPH 

BCG’s Latest Thinking on Growth and Innovation Analytics: https:...

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May 20, 2025 21 mins

Financial analysts were far more prepared than most CEOs for the US tariffs announced on April 2. Analysts, who serve as a proxy for the financial markets, anticipated tariffs would soon be an enormous issue, mentioning the topic 62% more often than did CEOs during Q1 earnings calls. That’s the conclusion of the second edition of the CEO Radar—a tool to help CEOs determine which issues truly deserve their time and attention. It unp...

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Global trade is entering a new phase marked by unpredictability. Marc Gilbert and Michael McAdoo discuss how companies can respond by building supply chain flexibility, strengthening scenario planning, and enhancing their understanding of geopolitical developments.

Learn More:

Marc Gilbert: https://on.bcg.com/3SpNytS 

Michael McAdoo: https://on.bcg.com/4iQA6Ku 

BCG’s Center on Geopolitics: https://on.bcg.com/3EA5A9A 

The...

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