An industry poll from tax and advisory firm BDO shows that 61% of business leaders now prioritize resilience over growth, following years of geopolitical shocks, economic headwinds, and technology innovation.
That result came from a report titled “Techtonic States 2025: The New Business Edge,” including responses gathered in In March and April from 1,050 global executives in financial services, manufacturing, technology, retail, healthcare, and other sectors.
The report asked how they are preparing for a future shaped by cyber threats, fragmented markets, and fast-moving innovation. And researchers found that global leaders are investing in artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening data infrastructure, and embedding risk-thinking into business culture to mitigate risk and gain competitive advantage, BDO found.
“The risks confronting businesses today are undeniable,” Ric Opal, Global BDO Digital Leader, said in a release. “In this environment, leaders must ask themselves: ‘Do I want to play offense or defense?’ Those choosing offense must harness advanced technology to build organizations that are resilient, agile, and future-ready. The era of playing it safe is over.”
In other results:
- nearly three-quarters (73%) of executives agree that resilience requires preparing for multiple potential outcomes, while almost half (42%) believe their organization lacks the necessary skills and infrastructure to effectively navigate market disruptions.
- only 8% of leaders expect a future defined by innovation and collaboration, and nearly half (45%) report that data security concerns are preventing their organization from investing more in AI technologies.
- nearly half of leaders (42%) are worried about keeping up with AI. And they say data management is now a top-three strategic priority, since siloed or “messy” data is the top reason organizations could fail to leverage the benefits of tech.
