McKinsey’s global managing partner Bob Sternfels outlines his strategic vision for leadership through 2025, emphasizing the critical role of AI adoption and employee development. Sternfels identifies three key focus areas: embracing AI transformation, developing talent, and maintaining organizational agility. He stresses that AI implementation should be viewed as a transformative journey rather than a mere technological upgrade, requiring leaders to fundamentally rethink business processes and workforce capabilities. The article highlights Sternfels’ emphasis on “human-machine teaming” where AI augments human capabilities rather than replacing them. On talent development, he advocates for continuous learning programs and upskilling initiatives to prepare employees for an AI-driven future. Sternfels warns that organizations failing to adapt to AI risk falling behind, citing that companies actively integrating AI are seeing 2-3 times better performance metrics than their peers. He recommends leaders focus on practical AI applications that deliver immediate value while building long-term capabilities. The piece concludes with Sternfels’ observation that successful AI implementation requires both technical expertise and change management skills, suggesting that leadership teams should prioritize developing both aspects simultaneously. His vision emphasizes that AI adoption should be viewed as a strategic imperative rather than a tactical choice, requiring sustained commitment from organizational leadership.