ZURICH, SWITZERLAND & BERLIN, GERMANY -- Egon Zehnder, the world’s preeminent executive search and leadership advisory firm, released the results of its latest Global CEO Survey at the Berlin Global Dialogue, which is taking place under the theme “Building Common Ground.”

The survey, which polled more than 470 CEOs from around the world, highlights the unprecedented changes business leaders foresee in the coming decade and, more importantly, their responsibility in addressing complex global challenges:

· 95% of CEOs expect significant, systemic shifts in the economy, geopolitics, energy and technology over the next decade.
· 80% of CEOs acknowledge an expanded role beyond leading their companies, positioning themselves as key players in shaping new societal realities.

The majority of CEOs also believe they can find common ground with other stakeholders, with climate change emerging as the top priority (32%), followed by regulating AI (30%) and promoting a fairer global economy (13%).

“Political shifts, including the concerning rise of right-winged movements, are increasingly relevant to CEOs. Promoting dialogue between leaders from business and politics is hence more crucial than ever,” said Lars-Hendrik Röller, Founder and Chair of the Berlin Global Dialogue.

When asked about the importance of adaptive skills for the future, CEOs prioritized “cultivating a culture of openness and curiosity” (99%).

“CEOs are embracing a new era of leadership,” said Michael Ensser, Global Chair of Egon Zehnder. “They are positioning themselves as key architects of societal progress. As complexity increases, they recognize that fostering curiosity and openness within their organisations will be critical to meeting the challenges ahead.”