
Sell, close, or continue? The transfer of US businesses is at a crossroads
From The McKinsey Podcast by McKinsey & Company
May 14, 2026 · 26 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the impending transfer of US businesses and its implications for the economy.
A historic wave of ownership transitions is set to reshape the backbone of the US economy. The fate of jobs, local spending, and wealth creation all hinge on whether enough qualified—and diverse—buyers can step in to continue to pave the way for small business ownership. In this episode, Shelley Stewart III, McKinsey senior partner and Roberta Fusaro, editorial director, talk about the scale and stakes of the "Great Ownership transfer". After, Ken Yearwood, McKinsey partner, joins to talk about the risks of inaction and the practical pathways to making these transitions work. The McKinsey Podcast : https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-podcast Shelley Stewart III: https://www.mckinsey.com/our-people/shelley-stewart The Great Ownership Transfer report: https://www.mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility/our-insights/the-great-ownership-transfer-a-new-era-of-business-stewardship McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility: https://www.mckinsey.com/institute-for-economic-mobility/overview Theme music composed, performed, and produced by Joy Ngiaw. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
People in this episode
Host: Shelley Stewart III
Guests: Roberta Fusaro, Ken Yearwood
Topics covered
- business ownership
- economic transitions
- small business
- job creation
- wealth creation
- diversity in business
Keywords
- ownership transition
- Great Ownership Transfer
- small business ownership
- economic mobility
- job market
- business risks
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: McKinsey & Company, McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility
Books & works: The Great Ownership Transfer
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