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 – 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
