Investing in long-term growth in a volatile global environment

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, global CEOs have confronted a new world of extraordinary volatility and uncertainty, forcing many to reassess their growth assumptions and put strategic plans on hold. The C-Suite Outlook Midyear—a special update of an annual survey conducted by The Conference Board in May analyzed responses from 750 CEOs and other C-suite executives about their perspectives, priorities, anxieties, and future plans. 

When asked where they plan to invest to ensure growth over the next two to three years, businesses leaders say they are focusing investment on technology and people. Specifically, CEOs say they are looking to digital transformation (the top-ranked growth lever with 58 percent citing this as part of their investment plans), along with developing new lines of business (52 percent), upskilling and retraining existing employees (44 percent), strengthening the corporate culture (39 percent), and increasing productivity in their hybrid work models (35 percent). Compared to prepandemic levels, CEOs say they are moving more quickly on automation, robots, and digital transformation because they can’t get enough people to work.  

For more information on the results of the C-Suite Outlook Midyear survey, see C-Suite View of Volatility, War, Risks, and Growth for Global Business or read about some of the results in The Wall Street Journal.