How CEOs can turn massive disruption into growth opportunities
Insights from the IBM Institute for Business Value 2025 CEO Study
In a world defined by turbulence, massive economic uncertainty and regulatory shifts are colliding with the rapid rise of AI—a technology evolving faster than anyone can reasonably keep up with. For CEOs, the stakes have never been higher.
Every decision feels like a gamble, with leaders expected to deliver results amidst constant disruption. But what if uncertainty wasn’t just a challenge to endure, but an opportunity to unlock growth?
The 2025 CEO Study—conducted by the IBM Institute for Business Value as part of our Global C-suite series—reveals the strategies and mindsets that set today’s leaders apart from the rest.
Based on a survey of 2,000 CEOs from 33 countries and 24 industries, the study offers a roadmap for navigating the complexities of the modern business landscape.
Our research found that for CEOs:
- AI adoption is accelerating: 61% of CEOs say their organization is actively adopting AI agents today and preparing to implement them at scale, with expectations that AI investments will grow twice as fast as they did last year.
- AI has them rethinking everything: 68% of CEOs say AI changes aspects of their business that they consider core—from the products and services they offer to how they run their business.
- There's a gap between ambition and reality: Only 25% of AI initiatives have delivered expected ROI over the last few years, and only 16% have scaled across the enterprise.
To bridge this gap and stay competitive in an AI-driven future, CEOs are adopting strategies to address workforce challenges, including reskilling existing talent, hiring for emerging AI-related roles, and integrating AI into workflows.
But in the urgency to stay ahead in an AI-dominated market, leaders are under pressure to move faster and take risks. 64% of CEOs say the risk of falling behind drives them to invest in some technologies before they have a clear understanding of the value those solutions bring to the organization.
What does this mean for leaders?
As CEOs navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape, prioritizing growth is far from straightforward. Leaders must juggle competing demands—delivering immediate efficiency gains, positioning their organizations for long-term growth, innovating at scale, and transforming their workforce—all while avoiding costly mistakes.
It’s a high-pressure balancing act, but leaders who succeed have embraced a bold mindset. To win in this environment, CEOs should:
- Make intentional risk-taking a priority: By embracing AI and taking smart risks, leaders can deliver success, even in uncertain times.
- Prioritize innovation that delivers outcomes: Ignore the hype and focus on using AI to drive real business value.
- Get rid of “good enough”: Inspire teams to think bigger with bold ambitions. Set goals that are so sharp that everyone understands them—and silos must crumble to meet them.
Discover how to move from productivity to performance
With the pace of change accelerating and the stakes higher than ever, it's time to take a bold step forward.
Read our full 2025 CEO Study report to learn how five mindshifts can help your organization unlock new opportunities for success. You'll also find actionable steps you can take to drive transformation, overcome obstacles, and stay ahead of the competition.
Subscribe now to receive complimentary reports from the IBM Institute for Business Value that will help you drive business growth, innovation, and success.
