Inside the Strategy Room

In this bonus episode, McKinsey CFO practice leaders Kevin Carmody, Matt Maloney, and Christian Grube share their insights from the 2026 CFO Forum in London.
Their conversation explores how the CFO role is evolving from financial steward to strategic value creator; why leading finance organizations are moving beyond incremental budgeting; how AI can provide the catalyst to fundamentally rewire finance operating models rather than simply automate existing processes; and why talent and capability building will determine which organizations capture the greatest value.
They also discuss how CFOs can reclaim the strategic narrative, strengthen capital allocation, and create the headspace to focus on the bold moves that drive long-term growth.

Related insights
Why accelerated resource allocation matters in the age of AI
CFOs have been concerned about geopolitical impacts for months
The CFO as growth leader: A conversation with Levi’s Harmit Singh
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Private equity firms are under increasing pressure to create value in a tougher market, with longer hold times and evolving value creation theses. Leading funds are using re-underwriting as a repeatable discipline that supports better decisions across the hold period. Join AD Bhatia, Jason Phillips, Hassen Ahmed and Manuel Fernandez Angulo as they unpack the what, when and who of re-underwriting. They share how AI assistance, leaner teams and a systematic approach can help overcome resourcing restraints to place this practice in the reach of every fund.
Related insights
Unlocking full potential: Five practices reshaping PE value creation
2026 Global Private Markets Report: Private equity−clearer view, tougher terrain
Beating the odds: How private equity firms can improve exit prospects
How private equity is using M&A integrations to overcome headwinds
Transforming value creation in private equity portfolio companies (podcast)
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The traditional annual budget process is broken. It is rigid, backward-looking, and not operationally fit to keep up with today's fast-moving markets. Top-performing companies are outpacing peers by budgeting differently. Matthew Maloney, Karen McLoughlin, and Michele Tam join us to discuss their recent article on how top-performing companies are transforming the budget from a control mechanism to a dynamic road map for driving growth. They share how leading CFOs are more closely linking the budget to strategic priorities, and how harnessing AI enables a data-driven, forward-looking approach.
Related insights
Your budget is killing your strategy—here are four ways to fix it
The CFO as growth leader: A conversation with Levi’s Harmit Singh
CFOs have been concerned about geopolitical impacts for months
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Infrastructure is at a pivotal inflection point: its definition is expanding beyond traditional assets to digital and interconnected systems, demanding a fundamental mindset shift by governments, investors, and operators to plan, fund, and maintain integrated infrastructure that supports future growth and resilience. Alastair Green and Adrian Kwok discuss the latest findings from our 2026 Global Private Markets Report, take stock of the sector's latest trends, and reveal how private capital is responding to an evolving funding landscape
Related insights
2026 Global Private Markets Report
The Infrastructure Moment
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Competitive advantage is becoming much more fluid as market positions shift faster across industries, with advantages eroding and differentiation narrowing. Despite this increased volatility, companies often fail to actively monitor shifts in their competitive edge. Join Matt Banholzer and Laura LaBerge as they discuss their latest research on the erosion of competitive advantage and share what companies can do to maximize their edge over peers.
Related Insights
Strategy’s biggest blind spot: Erosion of competitive advantage
How top economic performers lean into their competitive advantage to guide their strategy
Why accelerated resource allocation matters in the age of AI
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