The So What from BCG

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

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://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/kristy-ellmer [https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/kristy-ellmer]  Preorder Kristy's Book: https://www.amazon.com/How-Change-Really-Works-Science-Based/dp/B0FHBXYSLZ [https://www.amazon.com/How-Change-Really-Works-Science-Based/dp/B0FHBXYSLZ] BCG’s Latest Thinking on Business Transformation: https://www.bcg.com/capabilities/business-transformation/insights [https://www.bcg.com/capabilities/business-transformation/insights]  To Keep Transformations on Track, Incentives Are Crucial: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/incentives-are-crucial-for-transformation-success [https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/incentives-are-crucial-for-transformation-success]  The Transformation Paradox: How to Grow When the Growing Gets Tough: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/transformation-paradox-how-grow-when-growing-gets-tough [https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/transformation-paradox-how-grow-when-growing-gets-tough]  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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 this journey.  Learn More:  Iana Kouris: https://on.bcg.com/4fvFrXv [https://on.bcg.com/4fvFrXv]  BCGX: https://on.bcg.com/4ltCU1A [https://on.bcg.com/4ltCU1A]  How Digital and AI Will Reshape Health Care in 2025: https://on.bcg.com/4mEGBCu [https://on.bcg.com/4mEGBCu]  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

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’Niell: https://on.bcg.com/46tTmep [https://on.bcg.com/46tTmep]  BCG’s Latest Thinking on Private Equity: https://on.bcg.com/4598Fa5 [https://on.bcg.com/4598Fa5]  IT Spending Pulse: AI Agents and GenAI Reshape Priorities: https://on.bcg.com/4mmjVXG [https://on.bcg.com/4mmjVXG]  The So What from BCG on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMJgyXjV5gMI9JV-GcF_D1Y6zyf1Eab_0 [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMJgyXjV5gMI9JV-GcF_D1Y6zyf1Eab_0] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp