299. The new CEO’s guide to stakeholder impact

16 Apr 2026 · 54 min

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For new CEOs, engaging stakeholders is one of the most important—and most challenging—parts of the job. In this episode, Carolyn Dewar , Blair Epstein , and Eric Sherman discuss how CEOs can build a strong stakeholder strategy from day one. Drawing on research and their work with leaders across industries, they explore why stakeholder engagement matters so much, the unique challenges new CEOs face, and how leaders can best balance competing priorities across investors, employees, customers, regulators, and communities. They also discuss practical ways to create a clear narrative,…

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Inside the Strategy Room

McKinsey & Company · Business · English

We talk with McKinsey partners and corporate executives on the challenges they face creating lasting strategies in a fast-changing world. We also examine the different ways these executives approach these challenges and the new and innovative ways they think of creating a vision for their…

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