The So What from BCG Boston Consulting Group

Responsible investing goes back decades or even longer if pronouncements in the Old Testament and Qur’an are considered. Environment, social, and governance goals have become embedded in corporate strategy, even if the acronym ESG has become polarizing. Tim Mohin, director of climate and sustainability at BCG, discusses this evolution and what the next iteration might look like. One thing is clear: these goals aren’t going away even if companies stop talking about them.  
  
  
Learn More: 

Tim Mohin: https://on.bcg.com/3TK47kE 

Climate Change and Sustainability: https://on.bcg.com/3xl1QoG 

The original BRIC acronym came to life in 2001 to describe the untapped economic potential of Brazil, Russia, India, and China. This informal grouping of nations has since coalesced into a rising economic force, especially since the entry of South Africa in 2010 and Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates at the start of this year. Daniel Azevedo—leader of BCG’s global advantage practice in Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Africa —explains how global companies can navigate a world in which economic power is heading south. 
  
Learn More: 

Daniel Azevedo: https://on.bcg.com/3vli2Wc 

Jobs, National Security, and the Future of Trade: https://on.bcg.com/3TLkE9o 

These 9 Forces Are Reshaping the Global Business Landscape: https://on.bcg.com/3VrSwJr 

What would you have done differently if you had anticipated the likelihood of a global pandemic or the explosion of generative AI? In BCG’s newest podcast Imagine This..., BCG’s editor in chief Paul Michelman, and his AI co-host GENE delve into disruptive scenarios that could define the coming decades. BCG experts join the conversation, probing the possibilities and implications for leaders. Human and machine work together to explore the very real actions CEOs could take today to prepare.  
 
By 2030, the best CIO might be a CIB: a chief intelligence bot. And the human CEO might be bolstered by a swarm of CEO bots, able to harness a vast diversity of perspectives. Can you imagine? In this episode, BCG’s Mickey McManus envisions a future where top leaders share the corner office with AI—blending the logical with human intuition. Mickey, a BCG senior advisor and a pioneer in human-centered design, considers how a company like this would function. Hint: he recommends an approach much like jazz improvisation. 
 
 
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You’ll find more of what BCG has to say about generative AI here:  
https://on.bcg.com/3UuWtNd 
 
GenAI on GenAI: https://link.chtbl.com/bcg-genai-on-genai?sid=IT 
 
Also, in this episode, Mickey recommends an entirely new reading list for the C-suite, including:  

Iain M. Banks’s Culture series: https://www.amazon.com/The-Culture-9-book-series/dp/B07WLZZ9WV 

Joy Buolamwini’s Unmasking AI [https://www.amazon.com/Unmasking-AI-Mission-Protect-Machines/dp/0593241835] 

Safiya Umoja Noble’s Algorithms of Oppression [https://www.amazon.com/Algorithms-Oppression-Search-Engines-Reinforce/dp/1479837245] 

From 2010 to 2016, Africa was closing the gender gap faster than any region in the world. Challenges such as plunging commodity prices and the pandemic have set that progress back a generation. BCG’s Zineb Sqalli and Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye explain that domestic violence as well as unsafe public places are barriers in southern Africa. Traditional roles of women in families stand in the way of progress everywhere. Both public and private sectors must change the narrative to create inclusive work environments. Besides being the right thing to do, gender equity could boost Africa’s GDP by $300 billion a year. 

Learn More: 

Reframing the Narrative on Women’s Roles in African Societies: on.bcg.com/3UQd3Hx 

Zineb Sqalli: on.bcg.com/3wqCoO7 

Phillipa Osakwe-Okoye: on.bcg.com/3UOVhnO 

For many business leaders, cost efficiency took a backseat to the polycrisis caused by the pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and employee attrition. But today, earnings pressures and economic uncertainty place cost solidly front and center at most companies. Paul Goydan, global leader of BCG’s Accelerated Cost Advantage program, arms these leaders with insights and approaches, exploring everything from how AI can uncover waste to finding promising places to reinvest the savings.  

Learn More: 

Cost Management: On.bcg.com/49xIABZ 

What Leaders Are Saying About Costs and Growth in 2024: On.bcg.com/3OCEDDV 

Imagine This...:https://link.chtbl.com/imagine-this-show-link 

Most companies have no idea how many of their employees live with a disability. Most organizations report 4-7%, but BCG research says it’s much higher—25%. And that percentage is only going to climb as the workforce ages. Brad Loftus and Hillary Wool are both high-performing consultants who live with disabilities. They discuss why companies are so misinformed and explore how leaders can provide reasonable and cost-effective accommodations—and increase inclusion and retention.    

Learn More: 
Your Workforce Includes People with Disabilities. Does Your People Strategy?:https://on.bcg.com/3vQm7Sb