In this Global Insight episode of the On Aon podcast, Petra Schmidt and Derry Pickford reframe inflation from a cost challenge to a leadership test — one that is shaping how organizations allocate capital, price risk and position for growth.
They move beyond nearterm pressures to examine inflation as a persistent force influencing strategic decisions across pricing, supply chains and investment. The conversation centers on how leading businesses are building the capabilities to act in real time — bringing together data, discipline and scenario-planning to make better decisions in an unpredictable environment.
Rather than reacting to shifting conditions, Petra and Derry outline what it takes to stay ahead: embedding flexibility into operations, strengthening analytical capabilities and making deliberate tradeoffs that protect margin while positioning for longterm opportunity.
Key Takeaways:
Inflation is reshaping decision-making. Business leaders are treating it as a structural input, embedding flexibility, scenario-planning and capital discipline into how they operate and grow.
Leading organizations are shifting toward more data-driven and dynamic strategies — including pricing, supply chain design and cost management — to protect margin and adapt in real time.
Resilience is a capability that drives advantage. Continuous adaptation — not reliance on forecasts — is enabling organizations to protect margin and capture growth as conditions evolve.
Experts in this episode:
Petra Schmidt, Global Industry Leader, Enterprise Client Group, Aon
Derry Pickford, Global Head of Investment Strategy and Economics, Aon
Key Moments:
(01:30) What is structurally different about today’s inflation environment — and why recent shocks may be less severe but more frequent
(03:40) How organizations are responding in practice, from dynamic pricing and cost control to supply chain redesign and advanced analytics
(11:30) Why resilience is now a core capability — not a one-time initiative — and how leading organizations are building for continuous change
Soundbites:
Petra Schmidt:
“In an inflationary environment, resilience is not a project, it's a capability. So, inflation and volatility are no longer short-term disruptions. Companies should design operations assuming uncertainty will continue. Success is not about perfectly forecasting costs. It comes from continuously adapting. What we're seeing winning companies doing.”
Derry Pickford:
“The only thing I'd add is that economists are fallible and if there's one thing that we can be sure on is that forecasts will be wrong. So I really think it's completely essential that companies take the measures that you suggested so that they are as resilient as possible when we get those inevitable surprises.”
