As CEO challenges go, facing a global threat that is existential not just for your company but for your industry is among the worst possible. American Airlines’ former Chairman and CEO, Doug Parker, has been through this twice while leading an airline, following the 9/11 attacks in New York and the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, he speaks with McKinsey Senior Partner Celia Huber about how these experiences helped him become a better leader.

Doug Parker has served as CEO of three airlines: America West, US Airways, and American Airlines. He currently serves on the board of Qantas. Celia Huber is a McKinsey senior partner in our Bay Area office, where she leads our board services work in North America.

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Holistic transformations are complex and can take a long time to show full results. By optimizing working capital early on, companies can help score early wins to create momentum and excite stakeholders across the organization. In this episode, Sean talks with two McKinsey transformation experts about how to identify and achieve these working capital improvements to maximize the impact of a transformation.

Jacob Rüden is a partner in our Transformation Practice, based in Cologne, and he leads our cash excellence work globally. He has more than 20 years of experience serving clients in transformation and on cash and working capital engagements across sectors, including automotive, energy, chemicals, transportation, consumer goods, and retail. And Marvin Denis is an expert in our Transformation Practice, based in New York. He's a core member of our cash excellence service line and co-leader of our cash solutions globally. He works across sectors, including automotive, chemicals, consumer goods, and retail.

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John Stankey has led AT&T as CEO since July 2020, and was elected Chairman of the Board in February this year. Over his 40-year tenure, John has held multiple senior leadership roles across the breadth of AT&T’s businesses, including turns as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Technology Officer.

In this episode, John speaks with McKinsey senior partner and North America Chair Eric Kutcher about his journey at AT&T. They discuss how John pivoted the portfolio, how he trusted in long-term ‘big bets’ amidst the current wave of economic change, and the meaning of leaving a legacy at a 150-year-old company.

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