McKinsey on Agentic AI:
How to Create Business Value
Alexander Sukharevsky of QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, explains how leaders can turn agentic AI from isolated tools into a source of measurable business value through workflow redesign, talent strategy, and CEO ownership.
CXOTalk episode 922 explores why so much AI investment has produced limited measurable business value, and what leaders must change to capture value from agentic AI. Alexander Sukharevsky, Global Leader of QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, joins Michael Krigsman to discuss workflow redesign, talent implications, CEO ownership, and the balance between trust and speed in deploying autonomous AI systems.
The value of agentic AI’s comes from redesigning work, roles, and accountability, not from better tools. In CXOTalk Episode 922, Alexander Sukharevsky, Global Leader of QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, joins Michael Krigsman to examine why so much AI investment has yielded limited measurable value. The discussion will focus on how companies can move from pilots and automation to AI-enabled operating models that deliver business impact.
The conversation also addresses the leadership choices behind agentic AI adoption: where workflows must change, how human roles evolve, and what CEOs must own directly. For senior executives, the key concern is not just the power of AI agents but whether the organization can deploy them with sufficient trust, discipline, and speed to create an impact.
What we will cover:
- Why agentic AI business value remains difficult to measure despite heavy AI investment
- What leaders misunderstand about capturing value from AI
- How to redesign workflows around AI agents rather than attach AI to existing processes
- Why companies cannot outsource their way to AI excellence
- How agentic AI changes professional work, entry-level roles, and the path to expertise
- What CEO ownership of AI looks like when balancing trust, control, and speed
Watch CXOTalk Episode 922 with Alexander Sukharevsky, Global Leader of QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey.
Episode Participants
Alexander Sukharevsky is a global leader of QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, which helps organizations redefine business models and improve performance through the responsible use of AI and technology
Michael Krigsman is a globally recognized analyst, strategic advisor, and industry commentator known for his deep expertise in business transformation, innovation, and AI leadership.