Episode Details

Under Delaware law, US corporations are required to work in the best interests of their shareholders. Through its consulting practice, McKinsey has succeeded in boosting its client firms’ general financial results as well as their stock prices. Yet many of their clients’ former employees have suffered layoffs, while those remaining work in riskier settings and the environment suffers. For that matter, should McKinsey be excused from any responsibility for the opioid crisis?

This is the question: should the worlds’ largest and most prestigious consulting firm focus on satisfying their clients’ needs without taking into account the broader social ramifications of its recommendations?

In this session, Larry Zicklin (BBA, ’57) discusses these questions with Walt Bogdanich (top left) and Michael Forsythe, reporters at The New York Times, and co-authors of the book When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World’s Most Powerful Consulting Firm. With an introduction by Zicklin School Dean Bruce Weber (right) and a Q&A session moderated by Associate Dean Gwendolyn Webb.

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