In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Eric Lamarre, a senior partner at McKinsey & Company and co-author of the book Rewired: The McKinsey Guide to Outcompeting in the Age of Digital and AI. Eric Lamarre shares his fascinating journey from engineering and oceanography to becoming an expert in data, analytics, and AI as a consultant for McKinsey. He discusses the importance of digital transformations in organizations and the pitfalls many companies face in achieving their desired results.
Throughout the episode, Eric Lamarre emphasizes the crucial role of alignment in AI and digital transformation. He highlights the need for organizations to align control functions and operational procedures to manage risk and capture value effectively. Using examples from the airline and banking industries, Eric Lamarre illustrates how failure to align these aspects can hinder the success of technological implementation in support of organizational strategy.
Eric Lamarre emphasizes the importance of collaboration and coordination among teams, such as supply chain, sales, HR, finance, and risk management, to successfully implement the transformation. Eric Lamarre then delves into the importance of business problem-solving, building and transforming IT organizations, rethinking digital strategy, and the significance of people transformation in digital transformation. Finally, Eric Lamarre provides valuable insights and practical advice for leaders on how to get started on their digital and AI transformation.
