The Wall Street Journal
Amid Volatile Global Economy, Signs of Optimism
At the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, BCG’s chief client officer Tawfik Hammoud shares his outlook on the global economy with The Wall Street Journal. While he acknowledges worrying economic signals, Hammoud cites advances in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, synthetic biology, and nuclear fusion energy as reasons for long-term optimism.
Forbes
What Is the Metaverse and Why Should You Care?
In her column for Forbes, BCG’s Deborah Lovich interviews BCG Platinion’s Kristi Woolsey on why business leaders should care about the Metaverse. Woolsey advises companies to consider three Metaverse categories before getting started with the technology. “Don’t do Metaverse for the sake of doing Metaverse,” she says. “Start small and test with your intended audience so you can understand the actual value both qualitatively and quantitatively. Based on what you learn, find the path that delivers strategic value and plan to scale.”
The Jakarta Post
Growing Value of Green Consumers in Indonesia
In The Jakarta Post, BCG’s Marc Schmidt writes about the rising awareness in Indonesia surrounding the climate crisis and sustainable consumption. Citing a study from BCG and Sampingan, he notes that “99 percent of Indonesian consumers are aware of what climate change is, and while the depth of that knowledge may vary, there is growing emphasis on green consumption.” Schmidt outlines the challenges facing both businesses and customers in pursuing sustainability—and the opportunities for companies to embrace this new wave of consumer sentiment.
Live Mint
India’s Digital Health Landscape Sees a Silver Lining During COVID-19 Pandemic
In Live Mint, BCG’s Rajiv Gupta, Sripradish Kapikad, and Surya Giri analyze the future of digital health in India, including the opportunities for growth and the challenges that might be holding back the market. They cite a joint report from BCG and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) which found that both patients (60%) and doctors (65%) now prefer digital platforms over in-person health consultations. The authors examine the next trends in the digital health landscape, including a focus on hyper-personalized care and robust AI systems that will transform the value chain.
Forbes
Are Your Employees Captivated or Captives?
In her column for Forbes, BCG’s Deborah Lovich argues that the way to fight the record number of resignations in the US is by captivating the workforce. With the amount of options and mobility that workers have today, she notes, retaining their interest will require “enterprise agility.” Lovich outlines four steps that managers and organizations can take to captivate their key audiences.
Bloomberg Radio
Investor Sentiment Amid Inflation and Global Risks
In conversation with Bloomberg Radio, BCG’s Hady Farag discusses how the rising cost of inflation is impacting investor sentiment today. Sharing findings from BCG’s latest Investor Pulse Check, he explains that investors’ concerns have shifted away from pandemic-related issues to focus on inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical risks. Pointing to the data, Farag says that 65% of investors anticipate a recession in 2022 or 2023.
The Edge Singapore
Collaborations Key to Accelerating Climate Action
For The Edge Singapore, BCG’s Joel Kwong and Marc Schmidt write that achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will require innovation and collaboration across the public, private, and social sectors. Citing research from the BCG Henderson Institute, Kwong and Schmidt reveal that the most effective alliances excel by understanding whom to collaborate with, what is needed to accelerate progress, and how to mobilize collective action. “Coalitions are vital but alone they are no guarantee of success,” they write. “Getting them right is the key to unlocking opportunities.”
Forbes
BCG GAMMA’s Andrea Gallego Named “AI Visionary” by Forbes
In Forbes, BCG GAMMA’s Andrea Gallego is recognized as “one of the most influential, inspirational, and brilliant minds of our times.” She discusses the importance of diversity in artificial intelligence, the future of quantum computing, and which AI trends will have the most significant impact on business and society in the years to come. Gallego also details her efforts to further women-led digital initiatives at BCG and offers advice for women entering the field. “What makes technology beautiful,” she says, “is being creative, designing art, and making it accessible and usable to the entire population.”
Fortune
How Business Leaders Can Turn ESG into a Competitive Edge—and a Calling
In Fortune, BCG’s Rich Hutchinson and Marjolein Cuellar and BCG BrightHouse’s Maggie Schear discuss how ESG issues are rising on the corporate agenda—and why failure to build environmental and social impact into strategic decision-making and company culture can be a liability for organizations. They detail four steps to help companies chart a path towards “Authentic ESG,” including finding a clear and compelling purpose. “Study after study shows that purpose and ESG are not distractions; they are key to long-term performance,” they write.
Financial Times
Polish Plea for Other States to Assist the Refugee Effort
In a letter to the Financial Times, BCG’s Oktawian Zając writes about the extraordinary efforts of the Polish business community and citizens to support millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing their country. Amid concerns that Poland will not be able to handle the influx of people, Zając notes that managing this crisis will depend on the country’s ability to sustain a short-term humanitarian response while building long-term, sustainable support programs for dislocated families. “I call on business leaders in every country to play their part to answer that challenge,” he says.
ABC Australia
When Will Electric Cars Be More Affordable?
In conversation with ABC Australia, BCG’s James Tilbury elaborates on the shifting economics that are causing more consumers to finally take a chance on electric vehicles (EVs). A BCG analysis identified that some luxury EVs have already reached parity for total cost of ownership with traditional cars, but Tilbury asserts that this does not necessarily indicate that there will be an increase in EV purchases. “Total cost of ownership parity won’t be enough to spur rapid uptake—there are various other factors like convenience that play a big role,” he says.
The Wall Street Journal
How Addressing Climate Change Could Affect Key Sectors
In The Wall Street Journal, BCG’s Jens Burchardt discusses the current technologies that could help keep climate change in check and how the transition to net zero could affect the global economy. He states that the current barriers to rapid decarbonization are primarily political and economic rather than technological. “Our understanding of what is actually needed, sector by sector, to address this challenge, improves over time,” Burchardt says.
BBC
Do Consumers Know Where Their Food Comes From?
In conversation with the BBC, BCG’s Shalini Unnikrishnan discusses the use of blockchain technology to track food as it moves from farm to consumer. She explains how customers can use tracing technologies to gain more insight into sustainable food production practices. According to Unnikrishnan, consumers are increasingly willing to change their food-shopping habits for more sustainable products, including paying more money for certain items.
Australian Financial Review
Shifting from E-Commerce to Virtual Commerce
In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, BCG’s Sarah Willersdorf discusses the opportunities for new revenue and marketing streams in the luxury metaverse. She advises companies in the fashion, beauty, and fast-food sectors to start monitoring and experimenting with the new virtual world. “What this represents is new ways to shop, new ways to engage, and new ways to build communities,” Willersdorf says.
Forbes
The Keys to Driving Lasting Change
In her column for Forbes, Deborah Lovich shares what she has learned from her experiences working on large-scale change initiatives for BCG, and identifies four requirements for successful change. “These unprecedented times require organizations to respond and change rapidly,” Lovich writes. “If we want the changes to accomplish the intended goals (ideally, ahead of schedule and under budget) and endure, we need to approach change robustly—even when moving quickly.”