Michael Birshan
The Strategist
The long view, patient, analytical, playing several moves ahead.
Michael Birshan presents as a classic Strategist, consistently framing complex challenges through structured, multi-horizon thinking. In this interview, Birshan demonstrates a rigorous analytical approach to navigating the net zero transition, innovation at scale, and corporate resilience, repeatedly organizing his answers into clear frameworks such as his three-part transition playbook for incumbents.
“Better to disrupt yourself than to be disrupted. They had all sorts of technology. It wasn't an IP challenge. It wasn't that the inventions were elsewhere.”
On incumbents navigating disruptionundated
“Can you demonstrate to investors that you are reallocating capital towards the new? It's not just PR, it's not just dipping your toe in the water, that you are making meaningful capital allocation shifts.”
On transition credibility with investorsundated
“We are very keen to have a firm that is distinctive but not elite, and we are very keen to ensure that we can find talent wherever it might be and whatever it might be doing at the moment.”
On McKinsey talent acquisitionundated
Money Maze Podcast: “The View from McKinsey - With Michael Birshan, Global Co-Leader of their Strategy and Corporate Finance Practice”
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