Global Executives Struggle to Balance Rapid Transformation and Risk

The survey highlights a growing disconnect between ambitious growth goals and the operational maturity required to achieve them. While nearly half of the respondents feel secure in their ability to protect enterprise value and execute business transformations, only 38% report high confidence in their agility to navigate emerging threats. This gap persists even as risk levels climb, with cyber threats, AI implementation challenges, and economic instability dominating the near-term landscape.

Matt Moore, global leader of Legal, Risk & Compliance at Protiviti, argues that transformation is no longer a standalone solution. Instead, success in 2027 will depend on the ability to turn risk insights into decisive action. This shift is driving a move toward ecosystem partnerships, which 65% of executives now identify as their primary growth opportunity. As organic growth becomes harder to secure, firms are increasingly relying on strategic alliances to access specialized technology and talent.

AI strategy is also undergoing a fundamental pivot. Rather than focusing solely on deployment, leadership teams are emphasizing workforce enablement, process integration, and governance to extract measurable value. Dr. Mark Beasley, director of the NC State ERM Initiative, notes that resilience must be treated as an integrated business capability rather than a siloed department. By breaking down these internal barriers, organizations can identify change earlier and convert uncertainty into a competitive advantage.