Careers
Over the past two years, supply chains and their efficiency have grown increasingly important to executives, climbing from 14th on their list of priorities to the number-one challenge. These findings are revealed in the 2025 CEO Study by IBM’s Institute for Business Value in cooperation with Oxford Economics. It reveals that supply chain performance, business model innovation and talent acquisition and retention are the most pressing concerns for executives today.
According to the study, CEOs are also focusing on predictability, forecast accuracy and the ability to anticipate needs. Many plan to leverage artificial intelligence to detect market shifts, better understand customer behaviour and monitor operational outcomes — all to gain a competitive edge.
Characteristics of leading CEOs
IBM IBV identifies six capabilities and traits that allow certain CEOs to achieve superior business results, even in uncertain environments. These leaders — dubbed “top-performing CEOs” — rely on quality information, agile teams and nerves of steel, as well as the following characteristics:
- Connected. They maintain highly integrated workflows that involve the entire organisation.
- Decisive. They act with agility, enabling success in uncertain contexts.
- Responsible. These executives manage and comply with emerging regulations, including those related to AI.
- Future-focused. They allocate part of their budgets to AI and other cutting-edge technologies.
- Informed. Before making any moves, they assess the potential impact of generative AI on their workforce.
- Unimpeded. They adopt new technologies, processes and suppliers quickly to drive innovation and remain competitive.