BCG in the News

The New York Times

A Path to Solving Carbon Emissions

In The New York Times, BCG’s Global Chair Rich Lesser explains why more companies will purchase carbon removal credits in the coming years. BCG research forecasts that the market for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies will grow from less than $10 billion today to as much as $135 billion by 2040. While CDR alone won’t solve the climate crisis, many scientists believe that removal of excess carbon dioxide will be necessary. “No one is arguing that you could solve all our carbon emissions with this,” Lesser says. “But it could be a meaningful part of solving a huge problem.”

Fortune

Childcare Benefits Companies, Too

In Fortune, BCG’s Emily Kos discusses the importance—and the economic value—of employers providing childcare benefits to their employees. Research from a new report by BCG and Moms First reveals that US-based companies that do so can experience a return on investment (ROI) ranging from 90% to 425%. Noting the different ways that employers can customize childcare benefits for their employees, Kos says, “There’s a solution out there that would be ROI positive for companies as long as they’re being thoughtful about how they match their benefits to their workforce.”

The Edge Singapore

Your Organization Needs a Better Business Building Strategy

In The Edge Singapore, BCG’s Hanno Stegmann writes that despite recent economic growth in Asia Pacific (APAC), effective business building is necessary for the region’s continued success. BCG research projects that APAC will account for 60% of global GDP growth in 2024. For organizations that wish to leverage this opportunity, Stegmann outlines nine strategic assets to maximize effective business building. “Companies should embed a proper business building methodology backed by an innovation mentality if they want to achieve success,” he says.

Harvard Business Review

Don’t Wait for a Crisis to Reduce Costs

In Harvard Business Review, BCG’s Paul Goydan and Kevin Kelley write about the dynamics that make it difficult to drive cost competitiveness and deliver lasting impact. The pair provide five critical actions for CEOs to tackle the root causes of cost crisis, including future-proofing organizations by utilizing emerging technologies and redeploying talent to priority areas. “Leaders who understand the forces contributing to cost creep and who respond decisively can use freed-up resources to grow and support strategic priorities,” Goydan and Kelley write. “They will, in turn, build leaner, faster, and stronger organizations.”

Fortune

China May Have Asia’s Most Vibrant Companies—But Don’t Count the Rest of the Region Out

In Fortune, BCG’s Fang Ruan, Ketil Gjerstad, Johann Harnoss, Martin Reeves, and Adam Job write about three trends driving Asia’s innovation and growth potential, based on BCG and Fortune’s “Asia Future 30” list. Although China has been the region’s innovation leader for some time, the country faces risk due to a property crisis and geopolitical tensions. The authors explain that South Korea, India, and Japan are emerging as hot spots of growth potential in Asia, but they all depend, to some extent, on a strong Chinese economy.

Forbes

Reflections and Lessons from 3 Years, 80 Columns

After three years as a contributor, BCG’s Deborah Lovich writes her final Forbes guest column about leadership strategy. Lovich reflects on how she stumbled into being a columnist during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also shares her biggest takeaways from her years writing for Forbes, including the importance of talking to and learning from experts, gathering feedback, and putting her true self into her work despite the possibility of blowback. Many of her columns were inspired by the people around her. “Listening to others enriches your world,” Lovich says.

Bloomberg

EU AI Act’s Impact on Businesses

On the “Bloomberg Talks” podcast, BCG’s Kirsten Rulf speaks about the significance of the European Parliament’s landmark Artificial Intelligence Act. While some businesses are concerned about the administrative burden, Rulf explains that regulation can help mitigate risks and scale AI technology. She asserts that the EU AI Act sets forth a clear framework for businesses to follow during AI implementation. “It’s not stifling innovation—it gives the necessary framework to actually scale innovation,” Rulf states.

Fortune

Senior Women in Tech Lead GenAI Adoption

In Fortune, BCG’s Neveen Awad highlights BCG research which reveals that women in senior tech roles are outpacing men in GenAI adoption. Further, these women are 10% more aware than their male counterparts that the technology will be important to their future success in the workplace. “I think as much as possible,” Awad says, “women can lead the charge on GenAI to be part of the conversation at every level.”

CFO

CEO Outlook on Cost Management in 2024

In CFO, BCG’s Paul Goydan explains that after years of unexpected disruptions, companies are prioritizing cost management in 2024. BCG research finds that executives are focused on lowering manufacturing and supply chain costs, specifically by optimizing procurement. Goydan elaborates that companies are rewiring supply chains to avoid geopolitical tensions, cost increases, or shipping disruptions. “This is a holistic cost challenge–one that’s built up over five years of very rapid adjustments that companies had to make,” he says.

CNN

It Is Still Early Days for GenAI

On CNN’s “Quest Means Business,” BCG’s Global Chair Rich Lesser shares how companies are implementing AI and GenAI. BCG research revealed that 90% of leaders are waiting for GenAI to move beyond the hype or are experimenting with it in small ways. Lesser explains it is still early days for GenAI: “Technology normally takes years to roll out, but people are making bigger and bigger priorities about leveraging it.” Despite excitement and early experimentation, he states that many companies find it easy to begin GenAI pilot programs but struggle to scale the technology.

New at BCG

Boston Consulting Group Partners with Mandiant, Empowering Organizations to Proactively Mitigate Cyber Risk and Improve Resilience

BOSTON—Boston Consulting Group (BCG), one of the world’s leading management consulting firms, today announced a strategic partnership with Mandiant (part of Google Cloud)—a recognized leader in dynamic cyber defense, threat intelligence, and incident response services—to help organizations improve cybersecurity resilience against the ever-evolving threat landscape.

Harvard Business Review

How to Get People to Seize Opportunities at Work

In Harvard Business Review, BCG’s Julia Dhar, Kristy Ellmer, Lukas Ferner, Jason Guggenheim, and Sana Rafiq explore the barriers that prevent people from making use of opportunities and programs they’re offered at work. The authors identify three common hurdles and provide five steps for business leaders looking to improve the “take-up” rates of products and programs within their organizations by using concepts from behavioral economics. “With a more behaviorally informed approach, corporate executives and senior policymakers can help more people, while also benefiting their own organizations and society at large,” note the authors.