Exceptional Leaders

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Investing
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LEADERSHIP
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In this engaging series from Morgan Stanley, experts from across the firm sit down with leaders at world-class companies for insightful conversations covering everything from leadership lessons to foundational changes in industries, markets and society.

Dick’s Sporting Goods: A New Arena of Retail with Executive Chairman Ed Stack

On this episode of Exceptional Leaders, host Simeon Gutman, Morgan Stanley’s hardline and broadline retail analyst, speaks with Ed Stack, Executive Chairman and longtime former CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods. Together, they discuss the strategic decisions that have enabled the company to lead through disruption and redefine the future of brick‑and‑mortar retail. Stack shares how Dick’s is combining immersive in‑store experiences through its House of Sport concept with digital platforms like GameChanger to strengthen its presence in the growing youth sports market. By supporting athletes throughout their entire journey, Dick’s continues to demonstrate how purpose‑driven leadership and a long‑term commitment to community are shaping the future of one of America’s most iconic retailers.

The guest speakers are neither employees nor affiliated with Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC. (“Morgan Stanley”). The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Morgan Stanley. The information and figures contained herein has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley is not responsible for the information or data contained in this podcast.

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Coca-Cola: Building a Company That Can Adapt with James Quincey

On this episode of Exceptional Leaders, host Dara Mohsenian, Morgan Stanley’s U.S. beverage and household products analyst, speaks with James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. Together, they discuss the leadership and cultural decisions that have helped Coca-Cola evolve at global scale—building an organization designed to adapt in moments of disruption and to grow across shifting consumer preferences. Quincey shares how The Coca-Cola Company became a “total beverage company,” why “culture eats strategy,” and what it takes to turn a transformation from an idea into daily execution. They also explore the company’s long runway in emerging markets through Quincey’s “two bottles” framework, and how experience operating in volatile regions shaped his emphasis on agility, judgment, and management development. With a leadership transition ahead as Quincey prepares to step into the role of Executive Chairman, the conversation offers a clear view into what must endure at The Coca-Cola Company: a mindset built for change, and a culture strong enough to outlast any one leader.

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SAP: Steering Business into the AI Era

From its early days building ERP systems in Germany, SAP has evolved to become a backbone of global business. Today, many of the largest companies in the world depend on SAP systems to run everything from financial accounting and supply chain management to e-commerce and data analytics, making the company’s strategic choices uniquely consequential.

When Christian Klein became CEO in 2020, he made a bold call: Move SAP decisively into the cloud and prepare the company for an AI‑driven future. Now, he argues that while AI is rapidly advancing, its effectiveness depends on a few things only SAP can offer at scale.

In this episode of Exceptional Leaders, European Software analyst Adam Wood sits down with Klein at SAP’s headquarters in Waldorf, Germany to discuss SAP’s cloud shift, its AI ambitions, and why human insight and collaboration still matter—even as intelligent agents become ubiquitous.

The proceeding content is informational only and based on information available when created. It is not an offer or a solicitation nor is it tax or legal advice. It does not consider your financial circumstances and objectives and may not be suitable for you.

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Wellhub CEO: Redefining Corporate Well-Being

Wellhub CEO & Co-Founder Cesar Carvalho shares his perspective on how companies are rethinking wellness, moving beyond perks to strategic investments in their people. As the company’s fast-growing digital platform continues to reshape how organizations support employee health, Carvalho highlights a clear shift: Businesses are recognizing that well-being isn’t just good for employees—it’s good for financial performance, too.

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United Airlines: Leading for the Long Haul

United Airlines operates at the center of a complex global network—where every decision is shaped by constant change.

In this episode of Exceptional Leaders, Morgan Stanley’s Lead North American Airlines analyst, Ravi Shanker, sits down with Kirby at United’s headquarters in Chicago to discuss what it means to head a global airline, why leadership—not management—defines success, and how United is investing in growth and innovation.

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What’s Behind India’s Next Era of Growth

The success of India’s transformation isn’t just about building rail lines, data centers or chip fabs – it means connecting them into a cohesive strategy that is widely beneficial. “Technology should not be left in the hands of a few,” says Ashwini Vaishnaw, who is India’s Minister for Railways, Electronics and Information Technology and a key figure in India’s development.

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Hinge Health: Physical Therapy Gets Virtual

Digital health has long captivated investors and industry participants with the promise of making healthcare more accessible, affordable and efficient. Yet despite significant investment across the sector, few companies have found a way to deliver digital care at scale, profitably. Hinge Health has emerged as one of the notable exceptions.

In this episode of Exceptional Leaders, Morgan Stanley Healthcare Technology Analyst Craig Hettenbach sits down with Hinge Health Co-Founder and CEO Daniel Perez at the company's Movement Conference in Chicago to discuss how AI, motion tracking and virtual care are transforming physical therapy— and what that blueprint could mean for the rest of healthcare.

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Thermo Fisher: The Company Behind the Science

Most people don’t interact with Thermo Fisher Scientific firsthand. Still, the company's tools, services and manufacturing capabilities underpin many of the advances that define modern life, from new medicines and diagnostic tests that keep us healthy, to the materials and semiconductors that power the digital economy.

In this episode of Exceptional Leaders, Morgan Stanley’s Head of Life Science Tools and Diagnostics Research, Kallum Titchmarsh, visits Thermo Fisher's biologics and gene-therapy manufacturing facility in Plainville, Massachusetts, for a conversation with the company’s Chairman and CEO Marc Casper. They discuss how Thermo Fisher helps turn discovery into medicine at every stage, and how AI, automation and a relentless customer focus could accelerate the breakthroughs ahead.

The preceding content was informational only and is not an offer nor a solicitation to purchase or sell any security, commodity, instrument, or fund or to participate in any investment or trading strategy. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Morgan Stanley does not render advice on legal or tax and tax accounting matters to clients. Clients should always consult their own legal or tax advisor for information concerning their individual situation.

Opinions expressed by third parties are solely their own. All opinions are subject to change without notice.

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