What Great CEOs Do Differently Today | Rich Lesser (Global Chair, BCG)
From Business & Beyond by Boston Consulting Group BCG
March 2, 2026 · 28 min · Episode 5
About this episode
Rich Lesser discusses the evolving role of CEOs in a rapidly changing world and the importance of adaptability and trust.
Richard Lesser reflects on leading BCG through a decade of disruption that saw the firm triple revenues while expanding into digital, advanced analytics and AI. 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: How BCG invested early in digital and AI before the generative AI inflection point The firm’s expansion into climate and sustainability advisory The rapid scaling of private capital into a multibillion-dollar platform What the Edelman Trust Barometer signals for CEOs 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 –…
People in this episode
Guest: Rich Lesser
Topics covered
- leadership
- CEO strategies
- digital transformation
- AI and analytics
- sustainability
- trust in institutions
Keywords
- leadership
- CEOs
- digital
- AI
- sustainability
- trust
- disruption
- private capital
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BCG, Edelman
Products: generative AI
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