More than 75% of the global workforce believes diversity at work is a critical factor when considering employment opportunities. For their part, companies have increasingly implemented DEI programs over the past decade. But too many of these programs have been narrow in focus and limited in scope. Amid the social movements, pandemic, and general uncertainty of the past few years, employees have come to expect the companies they work for to act as agents of change. In this environment, the business world must do far more than pay lip service to DEI. Leaders across industries have to ensure that their organizations take bold action to build a more just and equitable world. Those who pursue these goals through DEI initiatives won’t just be doing the right thing; they’ll also be equipping themselves with a powerful foundation for long-term strategic advantage.

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Thanks in no small part to the pandemic, people are today spending more time—and more money—online than ever before. And we’re expecting the quality of our experiences to grow alongside our engagement. Consumers are demanding more of the businesses that sell to us online; we expect personalized offers, seamless buying journeys, and sustainable products. Savvy companies are responding accordingly and finding new ways to get closer to consumers, via gaming and virtual reality, for example. Meanwhile, innovations such as cryptocurrencies, NFTs, and the metaverse are broadening the digital world. It’s an exciting time—but it comes with challenges. Growing privacy concerns, divided user attention, and evolving tech needs stand in the way of success for industries that are unable to adapt. The future of sales and marketing requires bold new approaches and refreshed strategies. Opportunity awaits.

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There’s a reason AI has risen to the top of many executives’ agendas. It’s difficult to overstate the ways the technology has already changed the world—and this is just the beginning. AI is leading a global shift in human activity away from routine labor and toward creative endeavors, enhancing productivity, sharpening analytics capabilities, and vastly improving the consumer experience. And according to a BCG-MIT SMR survey, 84% of respondents believe that harnessing AI is increasingly becoming a key source of competitive advantage, while 75% say that AI has allowed them to move into new business areas. But given its ever-expanding application, AI may soon be more than just a way to gain a competitive edge. It could become essential to survival. The pressure is on. Unlocking the full power of AI is no easy task, but it’s an essential one for surviving and thriving now and in the years ahead.


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This edition takes readers inside the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), sharing outcomes and implications for businesses related to climate adaptation, financing, and mitigation. While much work remains—emissions must be reduced by 50% by 2030 to limit warming in accordance with the Paris Agreement—the global climate change conference brought a strong signal of hope. Action-focused collaboration among public and private actors has the potential to make a positive global impact. In this spirit, organizations must make bold moves, embed climate in their DNA, and accelerate change within their respective ecosystems.

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Which consumer behaviors are likely to stick? That’s the big question facing many businesses today as they navigate the immediate effects of the pandemic and try to anticipate demand in the years ahead. Leaders looking to salvage the old ways of doing business are unlikely to see success going forward. The good news is that reacting effectively to shifts in behavior can give way to a virtuous cycle. New demands—for products, channels, and ways of doing business—provide new occasions to meet customers, which in turn allow for greater scale and lower costs. Once the economics have been improved, businesses can sharpen their customer propositions and drive further innovation.

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