472 CEOs share their views in our new study: The CEO Response

According to Fortune, FUD—or fear, uncertainty, and doubt—among CEOs surrounding AI has noticeably diminished lately. We would agree. In our own recent in-depth interviews with CEOs, we heard near unanimous excitement about the potential of AI to drive growth and profitability, specifically to improve productivity, reduce costs, and unlock new revenue streams.

To manage and lead through vast complexity, CEOs have discovered that the antidote is largely relational, and they are actively working to expand their leadership capacity accordingly.

It turns out it is not just CEOs who are the superheroes of business today. Our new survey, “The Super CFO,” explains how CFOs all over the world are rising to meet their own new set of extraordinary expectations. Of the nearly 600 CFOs we reached, 82% attest to a massive expansion in CFO responsibilities over the last five years. Most are energized by their growing positions and the widening reach to more stakeholders. Above all, they understand that their expanding roles are a necessity in light of CEOs’ own increasing duties.

What are leaders finding they need to lean into and to develop further as sitting CEOs, and how can they accomplish this, all while leading the world’s massive enterprises?

CEO succession has shifted from solo decisions to board-led processes. Yet, incumbent CEOs remain vital in planning, mentoring, and shaping future leaders.

With the frenzy of news and heightened attention around generative AI, perhaps no group has been thrust more into the spotlight than CEOs.

Increasingly we have seen several Product leaders becoming CEOs. Leaders holding that magic mix of advanced technology experience and knowledge with an agile and iterative Product mindset are being sought after in a world where innovation is moving faster than ever.

The mounting uncertainty of the past few years have weighed on long-term planning in family businesses. In our CEO study, we heard from 153 family business CEOs who emphasized self-transformation in order to lead effectively into the future.