The So What from BCG

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 themselves to their peers when it comes to corporate integration of AI. Presented by BCG. Listen to The CEO Radar: https://sponsored.bloomberg.com/immersive-story/bcg/the-ceo-radar-q4-2025 [https://sponsored.bloomberg.com/immersive-story/bcg/the-ceo-radar-q4-2025]  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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 [https://on.bcg.com/4qhq5ea]  BCG on the Space Sector: https://on.bcg.com/4hohjqS [https://on.bcg.com/4hohjqS]  Space Services Are the Next Frontier for Industrial Companies: https://on.bcg.com/47zs3za [https://on.bcg.com/47zs3za]  GAIA: A Foundation Model for Operational Atmospheric Dynamics: https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.18179 [https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.18179]  GAIA Foundation Model is available for download: https://huggingface.co/bcg-usra-nasa-gaia [https://huggingface.co/bcg-usra-nasa-gaia]  Chapters  00:00- 01:16 Introduction/Troy’s ‘So What’  01:17-01:57 What would a day look like without space?  01:58-04:02 How big is the space industry?  04:03-06:01 The three pillars of space  06:02-08:05 What pillar is the most significant for growth?  08:06-10:40 What can space tech really do for a company?  10:41-12:50 Does every company need a space strategy?  12:51-14:22 What does a good space strategy look like?  14:23-15:52 How do you manage risks?  15:53-16:55 Why would you own your own space assets?  16:56-19:13 Is there enough space in space?  19:14-20:33 BCG’s work with NASA  20:34-22:21 How will space impact the future?  22:22-23:04 Troy’s ‘Now What’  23:05-23:18 Outro  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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 [https://on.bcg.com/4pWlAph]  Like: The Button That Changed the World: https://www.amazon.com/Like-Button-That-Changed-World/dp/B0D8XM8GZT [https://www.amazon.com/Like-Button-That-Changed-World/dp/B0D8XM8GZT]  What the Like Button Can Teach Us About Innovation: https://on.bcg.com/48MmONK [https://on.bcg.com/48MmONK]  Vote for Georgie Here: https://vote.lovieawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/features/best-hosts [https://vote.lovieawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/features/best-hosts] Chapters:  00:00-01:18 Introduction  01:19-02:50 The Story of ‘Like’  02:51-03:42 Was the like button an invention?  03:43-05:00 Why do we like to ‘like’?  05:01-05:31 Is online liking the same as real world liking?  05:32-06:38 What has been the economic impact?  06:39-08:01 How to get innovation right  08:02-08:28 How do you foster an innovative environment?  08:29-09:33 What role does storytelling play?  09:34-12:10 The like button and regulation   12:11-13:21 What lessons can be applied to new tech?  13:22-14:31 The structure of the book 14:32-16:44 Surprises when researching for the book  16:45-17:57 The business of thought leadership  17:58-18:46 What is the future of thought leadership?  18:47-19:34 What is next for innovation?  19:35-20:01 Outro  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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 [https://on.bcg.com/4nfwZ1A]  BCG’s Latest Thinking on Customer Insights: https://on.bcg.com/46iy6Yt [https://on.bcg.com/46iy6Yt]  The Paradox of Pessimism: Why Gloomy Consumers Keep Spending: https://on.bcg.com/3Ir7FH2 [https://on.bcg.com/3Ir7FH2]  Unpacking the $15 Trillion Opportunity in Leisure Travel: https://on.bcg.com/4gGyCTI [https://on.bcg.com/4gGyCTI]  Mapping the Consumer Touchpoints That Influence Decisions: https://on.bcg.com/3IBLBcD [https://on.bcg.com/3IBLBcD]  GenAI’s Role in Customer Insights: Think "And" Not "Or": https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/genais-role-customer-insights-think-ajr3c/ [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/genais-role-customer-insights-think-ajr3c/]  Chapters  00:00-01:25 Introduction/Lauren’s ‘So What’  01:26-02:39 How can businesses cut through the contradictions and truly understand what customers want?  02:49-03:18 Should we just ignore what people say?  03:19-04:37 What is consumer sentiment?  04:38-05:35 What can businesses really learn from consumers?  05:36-06:20 What factors play into the say-do gap?  06:21-07:45 How much does emotion shape what people buy?  07:46-09:08 How and why should businesses deaverage the customer?  09:09-10:17: How nuanced is motivation across different regions?  10:18-12:10 What parts of the customer journey actually shape what people choose?  12:11-12:52 Has AI helped us better understand customers or made things more confusing?  12:53-13:51 How can companies make sense of conflicting signals?  13:52-14:46 How is AI changing the way that we understand consumer behavior?  14:47-16:19 With data available, why is it critical for businesses to still talk to customers?  16:20-17:07 What mistakes are companies making when it comes to listening to their customers?  17:08-17:32 What should companies look for in sentiment signals?  17:33-18:04 Lauren’s ‘Now What’  18:05-18:27 Do milestone moments matter?  18:28-18:42 Outro  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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 [https://on.bcg.com/4mWHyGW]  Mid-2025 M&A Insights: https://on.bcg.com/3V6ENGF [https://on.bcg.com/3V6ENGF]  BCG’s Latest Thinking on M&A: https://on.bcg.com/4ndP9QU [https://on.bcg.com/4ndP9QU]  BCG’s M&A Sentiment Index: https://on.bcg.com/3VEdBzb [https://on.bcg.com/3VEdBzb]  Chapters: 00:00-02:56 Intro/Daniel’s ‘So What’  02:57-04:34 What is different now vs. the beginning of the year?  04:35-06:13 How quickly will the market recover?  06:14-08:20 What regions and sectors are particularly active?  08:21-09:01What are risks that could impede recovery?  09:02-10:26 What is wrong with waiting on the sidelines?  10:27-12:00 Do downturn deals tend to deliver more value than boom time deals?  12:01-13:25 What can a company to do ensure that it finds the right deal?  13:26-17:02 How has M&A changed in a more uncertain world?  17:03-18:03 How will AI evolve?  18:04-19:45 What are the winners doing right in this new environment?  19:46-21:16 The ‘Now What’  21:17-21:33 Outro This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp