The So What from BCG

Special Episode: Davos Wrap-up

Join several BCG senior partners as they share their insights from their time on the ground at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. BCG invites you to an exclusive look at the forces shaping the CEO agenda in 2026. BCG’s Judith Wallenstein, Aparna Bharadwaj, and Vlad Lukic discuss what they learned from their personal conversations with CEOs and global leaders at Davos. They share practical guidance for organizations preparing for the year ahead in AI, geopolitics, and other areas. Chapters Learn more: BCG at Davos, https://www.bcg.com/about/partner-ecosystem/world-economic-forum/davos [https://www.bcg.com/about/partner-ecosystem/world-economic-forum/davos] BCG’s CEO Agenda, https://www.bcg.com/executives/ceo-agenda [https://www.bcg.com/executives/ceo-agenda] Judith Wallenstein, Global Leader, CEO Advisory https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/judith-wallenstein [https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/judith-wallenstein] Aparna Bharadwaj, Global Leader, Global Advantage Practice https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/aparna-bharadwaj [https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/aparna-bharadwaj] Vlad Lukic, Global Leader, Tech and Digital Advantage https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/vladimir-lukic [https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/vladimir-lukic] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Successful CEOs Know That Growth Isn’t Magic. It’s Management.

CEOs must pursue growth transformation with the same rigor that they bring when they tackle costs. Tuukka Seppä, BCG’s global chair of transformation, explains why CEOs need bold targets, smart incentives, and relentless follow-through to scale effectively. He unpacks the common misconceptions that hold companies back, the impact of a chief transformation officer, and why this is the moment to shift from reacting to rebuilding. Listen on podcast platforms: https://lnk.to/so-what-general-show12 [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0g0ZndIUFNqOWQtcVhNQUNVVzVWa1pxMnQ3QXxBQ3Jtc0tsc0FlOFdINUJoaTdDRnhHRldONW90SUNCVHFyMUhzeURONVhNWWJJTEJkVFlhNEwxeFpCbDItWHlYTTZJOWVFZEptZXF0azl0X19UOG5XRmhvLUt1SlVuNFR2TEZnUHZlbm1FbVNEV2tSc0ZocC1hVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Flnk.to%2Fso-what-general-show12&v=-Q4Tb_a5_6s] Learn More: 1. Tuukka Seppa: https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/tuukka-seppa [https://www.bcg.com/about/people/experts/tuukka-seppa] 2. BCG’s Latest Thinking on Business Transformation: https://www.bcg.com/capabilities/business-transformation/insights [https://www.bcg.com/capabilities/business-transformation/insights] 3. CEO’s Guide to Growth in 2026 article: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/the-ceos-guide-to-growth-seizing-opportunity [https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/the-ceos-guide-to-growth-seizing-opportunity] 4. BCG at Davos 2026: https://www.bcg.com/about/partner-ecosystem/world-economic-forum/davos [https://www.bcg.com/about/partner-ecosystem/world-economic-forum/davos] Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:28–00:55 What’s Your “So What” on Growth? 00:55–01:50 If Growth Is a Strategic Choice, What Does It Take to Succeed? 01:50–03:16 Why Do Some Companies Grow During Extreme Volatility? 03:16–04:13 What Does Structured Growth Leadership Look Like in Practice? 04:13–05:12 Can Too Much Discipline Limit Growth in a Volatile World? 05:12–06:03 How Do You Build Flexibility and Adaptability into Growth? 06:03–07:36 Is It Obvious Where Growth Should Come From? How Do Leaders Decide What Good Growth Is? 07:36–10:20 Why Do Two-Thirds of Companies Miss Growth Targets? 10:20–11:05 What Does “Growing from a Strong Base” Mean? 11:05–12:35 How Do You Measure Growth Without Killing It Too Early? 12:35–13:55 How Important Is a Chief Transformation Officer? 13:55–14:37 What Buffers Matter for Growth — and Why Now? 14:37–16:06 What’s the Typical Timeline for a Growth Transformation? 16:06–17:54 What Unlocks the Shift from Efficiency to Growth? 17:54–19:48 What Role Can AI Play in Accelerating Growth? 19:48–20:41 When Is the Right Time to Start a Growth Program? 20:41–21:33 The ‘Now What’ 21:21–21:33 Outro This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

From the Archive: Winning the Rest of the 20s

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 [https://on.bcg.com/4lZrWla] Martin Reeves: https://on.bcg.com/4lXaAVX [https://on.bcg.com/4lXaAVX] Winning in the 20s: https://on.bcg.com/4lpe1oo [https://on.bcg.com/4lpe1oo] Winning the ’20s: A Leadership Agenda for the Next Decade: https://on.bcg.com/40iscDs [https://on.bcg.com/40iscDs] This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

The Untapped Market Opportunity Hiding in Plain Sight

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 what women want—they’ll co-create with them and design for real needs.    Learn More:  Alex Friedman: https://on.bcg.com/3XW4lry [https://on.bcg.com/3XW4lry]  Trish Stroman: https://on.bcg.com/3KSkJWU [https://on.bcg.com/3KSkJWU]  Closing the Menopause Care Gap: The Next Frontier in Women’s Health https://on.bcg.com/4oWSkNo [https://on.bcg.com/4oWSkNo]  BCG’s Latest Thinking on the Healthcare Industry: https://on.bcg.com/3KXXCdH [https://on.bcg.com/3KXXCdH]  BCG’s Innovate Her: https://on.bcg.com/3KSqiVs [https://on.bcg.com/3KSqiVs]  Chapters:  00:00-00:57 Introduction  00:58-02:26 Why don't businesses successfully target and serve women?  02:27-03:30 Why is women's health still underinvested in?  03:31-05:04 Why has momentum shifted?  05:05-06:06 How big of an economic opportunity is this?  06:07-07:06 Where are the most immediate areas businesses can create value?  07:07-08:30 How can you scan your business for opportunities?  08:31-09:21 What do leaders say are the biggest opportunities and stumbling blocks?  09:22-11:50 Upcoming innovations that could solve problems for female consumers  11:51-12:58 What sectors have the most to gain from targeting female consuemrs?  12:59-14:13 What businesses are excelling?  14:14-16:03 Is there enough investment in this space?  16:04-17:52 What's the productivity and talent cost when women aren’t supported?  17:53-19:38 How to persuade a board that this is worth investing resources in  19:39-21:04 The ‘Now What’  21:05-21:15 Outro  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

Special Announcement: Georgie Frost Wins Lovie Award

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 full of emoji confetti, please send an email to thesowhat@bcg.com [thesowhat@bcg.com]. Congratulations to Georgie and thank you all for making the podcast a success! This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp