AlixPartners has unveiled its 6th annual Disruption Index, a comprehensive survey of 3,200 CEOs and senior executives worldwide, shedding light on the challenges, priorities, and opportunities shaping business strategies in 2025. The report revealed an intriguing paradox: although two-thirds of CEOs believe their businesses are highly disrupted, their anxiety levels have remained steady, indicating that leaders are becoming more adept at navigating disruption. The highest-performing companies are not only adjusting to disruption but actively leveraging it to fuel growth and profitability.
High Performers Embrace Disruption
The survey identified a select group of top performers—229 companies (7% of respondents)—that excelled in both growth and profitability. These companies reported revenue growth and profit increases exceeding 10% last year. The report highlighted four key strategies that distinguish these high achievers:
- Focusing digital investments on measurable business outcomes, such as productivity, sales, and supply chain efficiency.
- Mitigating the cost of capital, especially in volatile markets.
- Continuously evaluating and managing business portfolios, ensuring alignment with strategic goals.
- Creating workforce flexibility and diversity to enhance agility in times of disruption.
The report noted that the ongoing transformation of global operations, coupled with advancements in technology, skills, and tight labor markets, is driving a productivity revolution. Productivity has emerged as the leading workforce concern, with high-performing companies prioritizing digital investments in areas where measurable results directly impact the income statement.
The Role of AI and Technology in Future-Proofing Businesses
Artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and robotics have been identified as critical areas of growth and opportunity. Business leaders, while optimistic about the potential of these technologies, face the challenge of balancing investments to future-proof their organizations against risks associated with rapid technological change. AI is expected to accelerate productivity, economic growth, and innovations in energy and healthcare, offering longer, higher-quality lives through medical advances.
Approximately 80% of executives expressed optimism about AI’s impact on their businesses. Most are leveraging AI primarily for revenue growth (61%), while others focus on cost reduction (39%). However, 35% of business leaders voiced concerns about an overreliance on AI, warning that it could undermine critical thinking and problem-solving skills among employees.
Rising Concerns: Cybersecurity and Geopolitical Tensions
The report revealed a sharp increase in concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity. Nearly 46% of executives identified these as major threats—up 20 percentage points from the previous year. With the adoption of AI and digital transformation accelerating, 45% of executives plan significant digital investments in cybersecurity over the next year.
Geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, also emerged as a pressing issue. More than half (56%) of business leaders reported modifying growth plans due to U.S.-China relations, while 74% stated that new tariffs have prompted strategic adjustments. Following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the proportion of companies planning to alter manufacturing and supplier footprints in response to geopolitical tensions rose by 27 percentage points to 73%.
Workforce Transformation: The Looming Productivity Boom
The Disruption Index pointed to a workforce revolution, driven by investments in upskilling and digital technologies aimed at improving productivity. Agility and adaptability have become top priorities for business leaders, with 75% indicating a need for stronger support from personal and professional advisors. Meanwhile, 43% of executives expect to hire more full-time workers in the coming year, up nine percentage points from last year.
The survey emphasized the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, with 94% of executives in top-performing companies viewing DEI as a competitive advantage. Similarly, environmental concerns have prompted three-quarters of respondents to adjust their strategies, with many reporting that sustainability efforts have positively impacted financial performance.
AI Tackling Supply Chain Challenges
Supply chain disruption remains a critical issue, with 45% of executives expecting it to worsen in the next year—a 14-point increase from 2024. AI and machine learning are seen as vital tools for addressing supply chain challenges, with 81% of leaders believing these technologies will improve operations. Rising material costs and fluctuating availability have prompted nearly three-quarters of respondents to reevaluate pricing strategies to better manage supply and demand volatility.
Boldness Over Perfection: How Leaders Stay Ahead
The most successful companies, defined as those growing both top and bottom lines faster than their peers, are acting decisively in the face of disruption. Key insights from the survey include:
- Transformative Investments: 91% of top-performing companies plan material acquisitions in 2025, compared to 53% of others.
- Business Model Innovation: 65% of high performers expect significant changes to their business models, compared to 38% of others.
- Increased Digital Spending: 87% of top performers are investing more in digital tools and technologies this year versus 58% of others.
- Strong ROI on Digital: 73% of these leaders report returns of 10% or more from digital investments, compared to just 14% of others.
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