The So What from BCG

Boston Consulting Group

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

  1. Cracking the Code of Customer Contradictions

    24 SEPT

    Cracking the Code of Customer Contradictions

    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 Thinking on Customer Insights: https://on.bcg.com/46iy6Yt  The Paradox of Pessimism: Why Gloomy Consumers Keep Spending: https://on.bcg.com/3Ir7FH2  Unpacking the $15 Trillion Opportunity in Leisure Travel: https://on.bcg.com/4gGyCTI  Mapping the Consumer Touchpoints That Influence Decisions: 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/  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

    19 min
  2. M&A Is Heating Up. Is Your Dealmaking Still on Ice?

    10 SEPT

    M&A Is Heating Up. Is Your Dealmaking Still on Ice?

    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 Thinking on M&A: https://on.bcg.com/4ndP9QU  BCG’s M&A Sentiment Index: 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

    22 min
  3. Don't Be a Statistic. Make Transformation Work.

    27 AUG

    Don't Be a Statistic. Make Transformation Work.

    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  Preorder Kristy's Book: 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  To Keep Transformations on Track, Incentives Are Crucial: 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  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    22 min
  4. Become the CEO of Your Health and Longevity

    13 AUG

    Become the CEO of Your Health and Longevity

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

    21 min
  5. The Real ROI of AI in Private Equity

    30 JUL

    The Real ROI of AI in Private Equity

    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  BCG’s Latest Thinking on Private Equity: https://on.bcg.com/4598Fa5  IT Spending Pulse: AI Agents and GenAI Reshape Priorities: https://on.bcg.com/4mmjVXG  The So What from BCG on YouTube: 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

    18 min
  6. Winning the Rest of the 20s

    16 JUL

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

    26 min
  7. Europe’s Make-or-Break Moment

    2 JUL

    Europe’s Make-or-Break Moment

    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-europe-boston-consulting-group-lbnhe/  BCG’s Center for Geopolitics: https://on.bcg.com/4kJir8K  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    20 min
  8. Who Wants to Be a CEO?

    18 JUN

    Who Wants to Be a CEO?

    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 Make: https://on.bcg.com/4kUtpJ2  Balancing a Dynamic Career and a Rewarding Personal Life: https://on.bcg.com/3TfaYTz  This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

    25 min
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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

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