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Chiara Marcati

Chiara Marcati: Transforming Industries through AI Leadership and Innovation

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a cornerstone of technological advancement, revolutionizing industries and creating new opportunities for innovation. As businesses increasingly seek to integrate AI into their operations, the demand for expertise in AI analytics, machine learning, and decision-making has risen significantly. This expanding domain plays a crucial role in shaping the future of many sectors, from finance to healthcare. It paves the way for more innovative, efficient solutions to complex challenges.

One individual who has been at the forefront of driving AI integration and its application across various industries is Partner Chiara Marcati. With a deep-rooted background in engineering and a focus on AI leadership, Chiara has demonstrated her ability to leverage technology for transformative business outcomes. She has embraced bold decisions and pursued continuous growth throughout her career, propelling her to prominent leadership positions in AI-focused initiatives. Her work promoting AI literacy and bridging skill gaps within organizations showcases her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of AI’s potential.

McKinsey & Company, a global leader in management consulting, has been instrumental in helping businesses unlock value through AI-driven strategies. The company’s AI arm, QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, has been assisting organizations to harness the power of AI to transform their operations, making a significant impact across industries worldwide. With a diverse team of technologists and experts, QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, provides tailored solutions to clients, ensuring that AI adoption leads to sustainable and scalable growth.

Let’s delve in to learn more:

From Engineering to AI Leadership

A series of transformative experiences have shaped Chiara’s career journey. After earning a Master’s in Engineering Telecommunications from Pisa in 2005, she specialized in remote sensing. That summer, she embarked on a backpacking trip across Mexico, which proved to be a pivotal experience, teaching her valuable lessons in resilience. Upon returning, she joined McKinsey & Company in Rome as a Business Analyst, where she quickly became involved in a significant banking merger project. This early exposure to change management had a lasting influence on her career.

2008, Chiara pursued an MBA at HEC Paris, where she met her husband. After completing her MBA, she sought a new challenge and moved to Dubai in 2011. Her work has spanned several regions, including France, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, providing her diverse and enriching experiences. In 2017, she delved deeply into AI, and by 2019, she took leadership of the Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa QuantumBlack hub. Under her leadership, the team grew to 100 people, and she became deeply involved in leveraging AI for decision-making and promoting AI literacy in the region.

A key turning point in Chiara’s career came in 2017 when she first worked with AI at scale. The insights she uncovered through AI analytics sparked her passion and shaped her professional path. Since then, she has focused on increasing AI literacy and continues to drive impactful change across various industries.

Driving Business Transformation Through AI and Innovation

QuantumBlack, McKinsey’s AI arm, has been helping businesses unlock value from AI since 2009, building on McKinsey’s 30 years of technology expertise. The arm integrates a top-tier tech stack with the expertise of McKinsey’s 7,000 technologists, designers, and product managers, serving clients in over 50 countries. Through innovations from QuantumBlack Labs, the center for R&D and software development, QuantumBlack supports businesses in adopting and scaling AI capabilities, driving the necessary organizational transformation.

Guiding Principles for Bold Leadership and Strategic Collaboration

Chiara follows three guiding principles in her career:

  • Think Bold: She focuses on transformative moves instead of incremental changes, always challenging decisions to push boundaries. For example, a radical shift in strategy proposed for a client was initially met with resistance but ultimately resulted in significant breakthroughs.
  • See the Path: She visualizes her goals, stays agile, and looks for opportunities. In one project in Africa, an unexpected opportunity to leverage local talent for AI development gave the project a significant advantage.
  • Build Alliances: Chiara believes collaboration is crucial. She seeks win-win situations, such as her strategic partnership with a tech startup to serve a public sector client, delivering innovative solutions.

Promoting Inclusivity, Flexibility, and Fairness in the Workplace

Chiara follows several fundamental principles in her approach to leadership and workplace culture:

  • Address Biases Openly: She believes in openly discussing and tackling biases, especially unconscious ones. In one workshop, uncovering these biases led to a more inclusive environment. During performance reviews, the team recently called out gender biases, an approach Chiara found refreshing.
  • Offer Flexibility: As a mother, she understands the importance of flexibility in balancing work and family. Her team provides flexible working arrangements to support this, including remote work options and a “ramp-on” program to assist employees returning from parental leave.
  • Reward Boundary-Setting: Chiara encourages and rewards those who set and respect boundaries. She advocates for transparency and being open about her priorities, such as balancing family and work. This approach has helped create a culture of respect and understanding.
  • Track Progression: She ensures career progression is monitored by gender to promote fairness. This focus has contributed to a significant increase in female leadership within the organization.

Building Trust, Collaboration, and Innovation for Team Success

Chiara prioritizes several fundamental principles in her leadership approach:

  • Collaboration: She fosters a team-oriented environment where everyone works toward common goals. This collective approach allows the team to leverage their strengths and achieve exceptional results.
  • Trust: Building a foundation of trust is essential for Chiara. It makes team members feel secure, valued, and open to communication and risk-taking.
  • Inclusion: She promotes an inclusive culture where diverse perspectives are respected. This diversity drives both innovation and creativity within teams.
  • Rewarding Initiative: Chiara encourages proactive behaviour and innovative thinking. Recognizing initiative helps motivate the team to challenge boundaries continuously.
  • Open and Honest Feedback: She supports a culture of constructive, open feedback, which promotes personal growth and continuous improvement for all team members.

Strategies for AI Talent, Focus, Governance, and Adoption

Chiara addresses several critical aspects of AI integration and development:

  • Bridging the AI Skills Gap: With rapid AI advancements, specialized skills are crucial. To tackle this, the team recruits top AI talent and enhances their skills through partnerships with leading educational institutions focused on machine learning, NLP, and AI ethics.
  • Intelligent AI Focus: She advocates for a focused approach in AI, prioritizing high-value areas to ensure resources are allocated efficiently. AI leaders are purposeful in targeting regions with the most significant potential for value.
  • Flexible AI Governance: Chiara stresses the importance of agility in decision-making. Maintaining flexibility in AI strategies is essential to adapt quickly as technologies and market needs shift.
  • Overcoming AI Adoption Resistance: She believes in addressing resistance through education and empathy. By increasing AI literacy, stakeholders are empowered to overcome fears about job security and effectively leverage AI for their benefit.

Driving Successful Transformations Through Effective Change Management

Chiara views change management as one of her most significant challenges, recognizing that addressing human factors is critical to leading successful transformations. She employs several strategies to ensure effective change:

  • Clear Communication: Ensuring employees understand what is happening through regular updates, such as weekly town halls during significant projects.
  • Guidance: Providing clear instructions with detailed action plans to direct teams effectively.
  • Training and Resources: Offering comprehensive training programs to equip employees with the necessary adaptation skills.
  • Leadership by Example: Inspiring confidence by having leadership actively engage in the change process, modeling desired behaviors.

One of the most rewarding aspects of her work is mobilizing an organization and witnessing change in action. She recalls a transformation project with a client where the initial conditions seemed bleak—low AI literacy, no vision, and a lack of role models or support. However, the team ultimately transformed through foundational coaching on AI and gradually helping leaders recognize its potential. More than 50 business professionals understood AI and were excited to champion its adoption, marking a decisive turnaround fuelled by perseverance and strategic change management.

Principles for Leadership, Growth, and Meaningful Connections

Chiara believes in several fundamental principles that have shaped her career:

  • Being Present: She values cultivating deep relationships by fully engaging in the moment. Setting aside distractions allows for more meaningful interactions and a surge of energy from genuine connections.
  • Seizing Opportunities: Chiara believes life is fleeting, and every opportunity should be embraced. Whether personal or professional, she stresses the importance of seizing chances before they pass.
  • Persisting Until the Best is Achieved: She views resilience as essential to leadership. Reflecting on the most inspirational leaders she has encountered, Chiara notes that their resilience shone through during difficult times.
  • Preferring to Apologize Rather Than Seek Permission: While respecting others, Chiara believes leaders must have the courage to make bold decisions, sometimes taking action and apologizing later rather than missing a critical moment.
  • Collaborating Rather Than Competing: She emphasizes the importance of collaboration over competition, viewing colleagues, clients, and teams as allies. This approach fosters unity and shared purpose, leading to more significant accomplishments.
  • Overusing ‘Thank You’: Chiara makes it a point to express gratitude frequently, as it is a simple yet powerful way to make others feel valued.

These principles have played a key role in her career. Taking risks has led to breakthroughs, and expressing gratitude has built strong relationships. She also invests in her team, recognizing that their success is vital to collective achievements.

The Crucial Role of Mentors and Sponsors in Career Advancement

Chiara views mentors and sponsors as essential, particularly for women in leadership. They serve as advisors, cheerleaders, advocates, and partners, offering critical support when needed. Their guidance shaped her career path, which has played a significant role in advancing her progress.

In an article she wrote for women leaders, Chiara reflected on how even senior leaders depend on mentors and sponsors to advocate for them in critical settings. Studies indicate that women are less likely to self-promote or request raises and promotions, which is where sponsors and mentors step in to champion their achievements and bridge the gap.

Looking back on her career, Chiara credits mentors for their pivotal role in helping her achieve critical promotions. While consulting promotions follow a structured process, the support and advocacy from mentors have been crucial in reaching new heights, often providing the encouragement needed to take the next step.

Balancing Professional Success with Meaningful Family Moments

Chiara compartmentalizes her professional and personal life to maintain focus and control. She values daily moments with her children, such as breakfast, dinner, and bedtime chats, which provide quality family time and help her stay grounded and energized. These rituals, particularly bedtime chats where they share the highlights of their day, allow her to stay connected with her family despite a demanding schedule.

She is also mindful of her limited time with her children, recognizing that she has only 18 summers with them. This perspective drives her to ensure that she enjoys and cherishes each moment, aiming to look back without regret and with pride in the time spent together.

Blending Professional Ambitions with Personal Dreams

Chiara aspires to lead her tech venture alongside a group of co-founders, aiming to explore untapped areas in AI. She dreams of returning to Italy, living on a farm, serving on several boards, and eventually sailing worldwide. These goals drive her enthusiasm for the future, blending her professional ambitions with personal passions. She envisions a fulfilling life where she contributes to the tech community while enjoying tranquility and adventure.

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