New Korn Ferry Research on Sentiment of CEOs and Board Directors Reveals Rising Risks and Falling Confidence

Los Angeles, July 30, 2025 – Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) today released a survey of global CEOs and board directors, revealing a surge in risks facing organizations and low levels of confidence to manage today’s most pressing issues, including economic volatility, AI disruption, talent shortages, and geopolitical conflicts.

Key highlights from the survey of 250 global leaders: 

• Nearly two-thirds (63%) face global and business risks that have accelerated in just the last 12 months.
• Only 11% of CEOs and boards feel fully confident about their organization’s ability to manage 2025’s biggest risks. Even long-tenured CEOs with 20 years of experience are experiencing falling confidence in navigating today’s risks.

“Many leaders are challenged to navigate so many forces simultaneously,” said Tierney Remick, Vice Chair, Board and CEO Services, Korn Ferry. “We’re seeing uneasiness—especially among long-tenured CEOs who have weathered decades of change but now face a convergence of risks unlike anything before.”

Other key themes from the CEO and Board survey include:

• AI Without the ROI: Despite surging investment in AI, just 8% of leaders surveyed are confident it will deliver a meaningful return on investment within the next three years. Notably, 82% of leaders indicated less than 20% of their workforce will be replaced by AI in the same time frame. Looking ahead, many leaders say they are concerned about regulatory complexity, which is a major barrier to adoption for nearly one-third (32%) of leaders.
• The Risk Gap Varies Between Industries: Risk isn’t rising equally across sectors. Consumer and industrial leaders reported the highest levels of perceived risk—at 86% and 83%, respectively, driven by factors such as tariffs.
• High Tech vs. Human Touch: Given the widespread focus on digital fluency, nearly 7 in 10 (69%) of CEOs and boards now rank tech savviness as the most critical leadership trait for the next three years. Meanwhile, only 20% consider the ability to drive employee engagement essential.
• The Battle for Buy-in: Leaders largely agree on the actions needed to manage risk, but many are facing internal headwinds. Cultural resistance to change (31%) and lack of investment (29%) top the list of roadblocks to building resiliency. Smaller firms report budget limitations (60%), while larger firms struggle with slow-moving cultures (67%) that stall progress.

“Organizations are at an inflection point,” said Jane Edison Stevenson, Global Vice Chair, Board and CEO Services at Korn Ferry. “Those that can strike the right balance between innovation, quarterly results and emotional intelligence—while navigating complexity—will be best positioned to thrive in 2025 and beyond.”

The key CEO and Board Risk findings can be found here.

Methodology:

Korn Ferry surveyed 250 global board directors and CEOs (125 of each). 80% were from the US, approximately 10% EMEA, and 10% APAC in spring 2025. The survey asked about levels of risk in organizations, specifically calling out risk linked to AI, geopolitics, the economy, tariffs, and people/talent.

About Korn Ferry:

Korn Ferry is a global consulting firm that powers performance. We unlock the potential in your people and unleash transformation across your business—synchronizing strategy, operations, and talent to accelerate performance, fuel growth, and inspire a legacy of change. That’s why the world’s most forward-thinking companies across every major industry turn to us—for a shared commitment to lasting impact and the bold ambition to Be More Than.

Media Contact:

Stacy Rozen 
Korn Ferry 
Stacy.Rozen@kornferry.com