Of Course, McKinsey Will Do Just Fine, Leon Black Will Come Roaring Back and Human Beings Will Continue Screwing Up (and returning new and improved)

Like the media and politicos, the influential professional anonymous network focused on consulting - Fishbowl Consulting - is reviewing the implications of McKinsey's work for China. Recently there have been multiple postings.

ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL

Let's cut to the chase. McKinsey, after being roughed up by all that bad publicity/GOP scrutiny, will bounce back soon enough. That's how scandals play out.

This latest challenge is (which makes John Oliver’s spoof seem public relations small potatoes), as The Financial Times reports:

"A McKinsey-led think-tank [Urban China Institute] advised China to deepen co-operation between business and the military and push foreign companies out of sensitive industries as part of a project for the central government in 2015."

That took the form of a book detailing what needs to be done for China's five-year plan. Some contend it could have endangered national security. And the threat is that McKinsey could be banned from US government contracts.

In the court of public opinion that possible ban seems awful, doesn’t it? Tsk-Tsk.  But in commercial terms that loss wouldn't be significant to McKinsey's overall revenues. In addition, it is a global organization with lots of clients outside the US. Their troubles align perfectly with the McKinsey kind of services.

BOUNCING BACK, NEW AND IMPROVED

What makes for juicy headlines often tends to be short-lived in actual damage to a business or an individual.

After being beaten up badly by the media and investors, Disney and its boomerang CEO Bob Iger are returning to a perceived position of strength. 

Much exposed for assorted misdeeds former US President Bill Clinton remains a power player.

Remember when Larry Summers was booted from the position of Harvard President? Of course, you don’t. Currently he’s all over the financial media as a thought leader.

LEON BLACK’S WAY TOO STICKY ORDEAL

In contrast, it has taken an unusually stretched-out time period for Apollo co-founder Leon Black to restore his standing in prestigious networks. That was after he took body blows for being in the Jeffrey Epstein loop and being accused by former mistress Guzel Ganieva of so many things.

My professional assessment of why all that has been so needlessly sticky is that his strategy seemed counterproductive. It seemed to be tossing legal grenades and those triggered a pile-on of over-the-top negative headlines.

Since the legal action has abated Black has a clear path forward to orchestrate the kind of comeback which financial players Mike Milken and Henry Blodget had accomplished. I recommend he get a memoir out there titled “Far From Perfect.” The guy is interesting. What he has to do is make himself human. 

All Calmed-Down

Already, as many know, McKinsey has announced it is engaged in soul-searching about what it is and its purpose. That kicked off with the iffy re-election of Bob Sternfels as head. Depending on how much heat it is taking and for how long that could be a reset of its branding and its statement about core values and policies. As in product marketing there can be put out there a new and improved McKinsey.

So, here we are. In crisis management as well as crisis communications scandals can provide lucrative assignments for myriad professional services. Those range from public relations agencies to law firms. Good for them. That creates knowledge worker jobs (which seem to be vanishing quickly).

But after the all the hoopla, the world goes on, usually not very different. The real change is generated by those Black Swans - unanticipated big bangs - such as the Internet and AI. Yeah, technology. 

McKinsey will continue to be a leader in management consulting. That is, it will go on to get more of the shrinking pie as the sector downsizes. Black will evolve into an amazing force field. And those caught up in the media/politico meat grinder will become increasingly skilled in how to rearrange the pieces post-scrutiny to smoothly shut down the noise-makers. 

HUMAN BEINGS AS SCREW-UPS

In my intuitive coaching/tarot readings I guide those who have made some wrong moves to navigate away from the past to new beginnings. The Roman Catholic Church, William Shakespeare and Carl Jung essentially put it this way: We human beings are a bunch of screw-ups.

2024. You can transform the craziness of this time into unique opportunity. Jane Genova provides you with intuitive career coaching, Tarot readings and related communications. Complimentary confidential consultation. (For appointment text/phone 203-468-8579 or email janegenova374@gmail.com)

Meanwhile, please get to know me:

https://tarotreadingsforcareers.blogspot.com/

https://janegenovaintuitivecareercoaching.blogspot.com/

https://makingyourpoint.blogspot.com)

 

 


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