Inside the Strategy Room

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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Long-term value creation is foundational to building strong companies and economies, yet many leaders struggle to ensure that well-conceived, well-executed strategies receive full recognition from investors. Senior Partner Ryan Davies and Associate Partner Jacob Marcus join us to discuss how to anticipate investor reactions, assess opportunities to outperform expectations, and embed an investor mindset into decision-making to build greater resilience.
Related Insights
Global Private Markets Report 2026
Private equity 2026 outlook: Clearer view, tougher terrain
Unlocking full potential: Five practices reshaping PE value creation
Transforming value creation in private equity portfolio companies
The coming wave of business transfers
What every CEO can learn from private equity
The CEO’s Guide to the Investment Galaxy
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In today’s tougher exit environment, private equity firms are facing longer holding periods, valuation gaps, and increased pressure to return capital. Kai Vollhardt and Jelena Bauer are joined by Christian Habrich and Frederyk Schroeder as they unpack their latest article on how to drive successful exits. They share strategies that top-performing firms use to improve exit outcomes and turn preparation into premium valuations, including how to translate AI potential into a credible value story.
Related Insights
Beating the odds: How private equity firms can improve exit prospects
Global Private Markets Report 2026
Private equity 2026 outlook: Clearer view, tougher terrain
Unlocking full potential: Five practices reshaping PE value creation
Transforming value creation in private equity portfolio companies (podcast)
The coming wave of business transfers (podcast)
What every CEO can learn from private equity (podcast)

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