In this episode of Business & Beyond, Rohin Wood (Managing Director & Partner, BCG X ANZ) shares a practical view on what’s changing, what’s working, and where most organisations are getting stuck.​

As execution becomes easier, the real challenge shifts to framing problems, redesigning workflows, and applying judgement.​

They explore:​

1. Why many AI initiatives stall at the pilot stage​
2. How to move from use cases to transformation​
3. The rise of agentic systems and what they mean for business​
4. Where organisations are already seeing real value​

Links:​

Scheduling the World’s Largest Fully-Owned and Integrated Iron Ore Supply Chain with Rio Tinto:​

https://www.bcg.com/x/mark-your-moment/how-an-iron-ore-producer-modernized-mining-operations-with-ai​

AI Radar Report: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/as-ai-investments-surge-ceos-take-the-lead​

Rohin's PhD Thesis: https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/2440/59390/8/02chapters1-4.pdf

Chapter markers:

0:00 – Abstraction and Leadership in AI

1:18 – From PhD to BCG X

5:32 – Scaling BCG X Globally

7:20 – Algorithms, Neural Networks and GPT Breakthroughs

8:51 – AI Writing Code and Maths

9:15 – The Cost of Work Dropping to Near Zero

10:23 – Agentic Commerce Explained

12:43 – AI as an Operating System

15:25 – From Pilots to Transformation

22:13 – Democratising AI Agents

24:00 – AI Capability Doubling Rapidly

29:08 – Mining, Pharma, Pricing Use Cases

32:31 – Superhuman Engineers Emerging

35:06 – Cyber Risk in AI Era

He shares why CEOs must balance short-term earnings with long-term vitality, why engagement with governments has shifted from optional to essential, and why complacency is the real threat in an era defined by generative AI, geopolitical tension and declining institutional trust. For Rich, the defining leadership advantage was not prior expertise, but the capacity to learn faster than the world was changing.​

In this episode, Rich also discusses:​

1. How BCG invested early in digital and AI before the generative AI inflection point​
2. The firm’s expansion into climate and sustainability advisory​
3. The rapid scaling of private capital into a multibillion-dollar platform​
4. What the Edelman Trust Barometer signals for CEOs​
5. Whether consulting remains relevant in the age of AI

Chapter Markers:

00:00:00 – The Leadership Lesson He Didn’t See Coming​

00:00:50 – Richard Lesser’s 40-Year BCG Journey​

00:01:57 – Leading in an Age of Disruption: What’s Changed​

00:03:03 – Balancing Short-Term Performance and Long-Term Vitality​

00:04:13 – Why CEOs Must Become Learners, Not Just Experts​

00:05:00 – The CEO as Statesman: Trust, Government and Polarisation​

00:07:26 – Scaling BCG: Digital, AI and Strategic Inflection Points​

00:09:32 – Climate, Sustainability and Private Capital Expansion​

00:11:26 – Stepping Into the CEO Role: Responsibility and TeamBuilding​

00:14:27 – Building Trust Through Authentic Leadership​

00:16:56 – AI, Generative Tools and the Future of Consulting​

00:21:15 – Energy, Sleep and Self-Awareness at the Top​

00:26:21 – Three Career Lessons for the Next Generation

Rich reflects on why this year felt fundamentally different, describing it as “a tale of four Davos” - four conversations unfolding at once. Leaders were debating the global economic outlook with cautious optimism, shifting the AI discussion from hype to value at scale, grappling with rising geopolitical tension, and continuing quieter but determined work on climate and sustainability.​

The conversation explores what a difficult decade has taught business leaders about resilience, how AI is moving from experimentation to real-world impact, what growing geopolitical fragmentation means for companies operating globally, and why climate action is increasingly driven by business fundamentals rather than public rhetoric.

Chapter markers

1. 00:00 Welcome & reflections after Davos​
2. 01:18 A tale of four Davos explained​
3. 04:20 Davos on the ground: the economic outlook​
4. 06:42 Global perspectives​
5. 08:48 How institutions and businesses build resilience​
6. 14:44 Davos in the cloud: AI moves from hype to value​
7. 19:43 Why CEOs are taking ownership of AI​
8. 22:44 Managing risks as the AI agenda scales
9. 25:21 Davos to the north: geopolitics & trade tensions​
10. 30:59 Navigating uncertainty in a fragmented world​
11. 34:32 Davos underground: climate beyond the headlines​
12. 36:57 The green economy as a growth opportunity​
13. 44:02 Final reflections: optimism in a decade of change

Resources:

1. Read Rich's article on A Tale of Four Davos here: https://on.bcg.com/4ryqZD8
2. The Widening AI Value Gap: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2025/are-you-generating-value-from-ai-the-widening-gap
3. AI Radar: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/as-ai-investments-surge-ceos-take-the-lead

John shares reflections from a long career in retail, from his early days on the shop floor to leading major transformations. He shares lessons shaped over time — often learned by getting things wrong first — and how those experiences influenced the way he leads today.​

The conversation explores ​

1. why simplifying choices builds trust​
2. the importance of genuinely listening to frontline teams and acting on what you hear​
3. how leaders can stay effective even when they don’t have all the answers​

A thoughtful discussion on leadership shaped by experience, and what really matters over the long run.​

BCG maintains a professional relationship with the company represented by this episode’s guest.​

​Chapters:

00:00 Why diversity of thought really matters​

00:26 Introducing John Gualtieri​

01:00 Growing up, family, and early influences​

04:31 First steps into retail​

06:46 Early leadership roles and career choices​

11:56 Joining Kmart and the journey of transformation​

14:23 Simplifying complexity to rebuild customer trust​

19:13 Big decisions and the Kmart turnaround​

20:05 Leadership lessons: the power of listening ​

26:43 Throwing out the script during COVID​

28:31 Leading Officeworks today​

30:08 The pace of change in modern retail​

32:58 Future opportunities: Tech, B2B​

37:36 Purpose beyond profit​

39:03 Staying grounded as a leader

She shares practical examples of what customers are demanding today, the rise of delivery as a core channel, and how Gen Z trends are reshaping drinks and snacking. Fiona also dives into AI use cases already live in stores, including automated stock ordering and agentic AI tools that support 8000 frontline team members.​

Finally, she opens up about her 30-year career from call centres to the CEO role, how she stays energised at 5:30 am training sessions, and the leadership habits that help her build resilient teams and navigate major transformation.​

BCG maintains a professional relationship with the company represented by today’s guest.

Chapters:

00:34 - Introducing Fiona Hayes and the modern 7-Eleven​

02:09 - How convenience has evolved in Australia​

04:03 - Intensifying competition and sector convergence​

05:31 - What today’s ANZ customers expect​

07:08 - Inside 7-Eleven’s purpose, ambition and growth strategy​

10:01 - Food and beverage as the future of convenience​

12:08 - Changing customer perception of 7-Eleven​

15:49 - Product innovation, testing and global inspirations​

20:11 - Localisation, franchisees and store-level agility​

23:46 - Digital engagement, loyalty and the rise of delivery​

27:34 - Partnerships, people and the success ecosystem​

29:02 - How 7-Eleven is applying AI across the business​

37:42 - Fiona’s career journey, adaptability and growth​

55:23 - Personal sustainability, leadership and career advice

In our first episode, Grant McCabe, Managing Partner of BCG ANZ, joins Sanjay Chari to talk about leading through uncertainty, building trust, and staying grounded under pressure.​

They explore habits that sustain focus and resilience, the evolving role of AI in business, and what it really means to lead with both clarity and care.

Chapters:

00:00 - 02:39 Introducing Grant McCabe

02:40 - 04:14 Why This Podcast Exists

04:15 - 10:09 What CEOs Are Talking About

10:10 - 14:19 Productivity & Growth Challenges

14:20 - 25:59 The Rise of AI in Australia

26:00 - 28:04 Will AI Replace Consultants?

28:05 - 32:59 Grant's Leadership Journey

33:00 - 37:59 Leading High Performing Teams

38:00 - 40:11 Sustainable High Performance at Work

40:12 - 44:49 Lessons from Geelong Football Club

44:50 - 45:44 How Grant Uses AI to Aid His Life

45:45 - 49:30 Personal Productivity & How You Can Turn Up to Your Job Sustainably

49:31 - 50:57 Advice for Leaders in 2026

50:58 - 53:09 Advice for Early-Career Talent in 2026

53:10 - 54:02 Closing Reflections

From boardrooms to startups, topics span leadership habits, purpose, AI in banking, retail media, loyalty and personalisation, and the art of execution.​

Expect practical insights, honest stories, and clear takeaways you can apply in your own work — minus the jargon.