This week’s newsletter highlights some of the best and most compelling thought leadership produced recently across a variety of topics. This is not meant to be a comprehensive survey of all the latest thought leadership available. Instead, it’s designed to be a curated selection, so you can quickly get ahead of some of the best current insights without having to do the searching yourself.
McKinsey & Co. compile their favorite data visualizations from the past 12 months to round out 2024. The article paints a succinct look back at impactful findings from recent studies across key areas like AI, resilience, talent, sustainability, and more. The article showcases a variety of chart styles, one with an interactive component, that highlight data in unique and engaging ways. In addition to the charts, the article includes brief two-fold analysis in each section, detailing the present-day significance of the data, as well as implications for the future.
Flexential examines how enterprise businesses are adapting their IT infrastructure to meet the demands of AI. The report is based on a survey of 350 IT leaders, providing proprietary insights into challenges and strategies surrounding AI deployment. Key findings include the need for increased infrastructure investments to enable AI roadmap execution, addressing skills gaps, and enhancing cybersecurity. The report emphasizes the importance of leveraging third-party colocation data centers and adopting flexible, sustainable solutions. It also highlights the critical role of C-suite and board-level support in driving AI initiatives.
Sprout Social analyzes consumer engagement with brands across various social media platforms. The report draws insights from a survey of 4,500 social+ media users across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Ireland. One key finding is the increasing demand for entertaining and educational content, with "edutainment" (content that educates and entertains) being the most engaging content format. The report underscores the need for brands to adapt to evolving consumer expectations drive engagement and ROI, providing snapshots of several specific brands that are doing so. The analysis offers actionable guidance for social teams to optimize resources by focusing on the right content types for each platform.
OC&C Strategy Consultants provides a comprehensive analysis of the state of the automotive industry. The report leverages proprietary survey data from almost 8,500 global consumers, focusing on their car decisions and driving habits. Key insights include the shift towards functional car purchases driven by need and cost, the plateauing of online car shopping in favor of an omnichannel approach, and the challenges in EV adoption due to consumer perceptions. The report offers prescriptive actions for OEMs and dealers, such as focusing on functional marketing, improving consumer education on EVs, and integrating digital and physical sales channels. The analysis is rich with differentiated insights, highlighting where businesses should invest or divest to align with evolving consumer preferences.
Black & Veatch explores the U.S. power industry's current challenges and opportunities. The report leverages a survey of nearly 700 industry stakeholders to highlight key issues such as the integration of renewables, aging infrastructure, and cybersecurity threats. It also addresses the impacts of climate change and the pressures from increasing data center demands and electric vehicle adoption. The report discusses industry priorities, including investment in solar technologies and energy storage systems. The report is structured to provide both a high-level overview and detailed analysis and emphasizes the need for robust cybersecurity measures and strategic planning to enhance grid resilience and meet future energy demands.
December’s GTLI webinar, the fourth in our monthly series, featured Lucia Rahilly, Global Editorial Director & Deputy Publisher at McKinsey & Company, and Jeff Potter, Managing Director, Lead of Advisory Insights at KPMG LLP. Lucia and Jeff discussed the significance of thought leadership in KPMG’s strategy, how KPMG's target audience is evolving, the impact of generative AI on KPMG's approach, and much more. The recording is available here , where you can also view all previous replays.
Dates to Remember:
5 February – Final deadline to enter American Business Awards
6 February – 1st annual GTLI Symposium in Houston – register today!
27 February -Thought Leadership for Tomorrow: 2025 Trends Roundtable
29 May – Thought Leadership for Tomorrow 2025 Event and Awards
