CEO Challenge 2017: Leading through Risk, Disruption, and Transformation

The biggest challenges for CEOs in 2017 come from global volatility and unprecedented disruption. Leaders are coping by focusing on talent, culture, and fiscal discipline. Our annual CEO survey reveals common concerns and strategies: fiscal prudence to counter recession concerns, efforts to engage and upskill employees in a tight labor market, and more personalization and customization to meet customer needs as digital technology transforms the way consumers and businesses interact. CEOs are using these strategies as they navigate six core business issues: human capital, innovation and digitization, sustainability, regulation and risk, operational excellence, and customer relationships/corporate brand and reputation.