Egon Zehnder’s Global CEO Survey Reveals Prioritisation of Sustainability and Personal Development Among APAC Leaders
Singapore & Asia Pacific, October 1, 2024 – Egon Zehnder, the world’s foremost leadership advisory firm, has published the results of its latest global CEO survey, The CEO Response. The report highlights the extraordinary changes business leaders expect in the coming decade and the role they must play in tackling complex global challenges.
Globally, CEOs are recognising the need for greater collaboration with governments and stakeholders to address societal issues, with:
- 80% of CEOs acknowledge an expanded role beyond leading their organisations, positioning themselves as key players in shaping new societal realities.
- Climate change (32%) is emerging as the top priority for building common ground between businesses, governments, and stakeholders, followed by regulating AI (30%) and promoting a fairer global economy (13%).
The survey involved over 470 CEOs worldwide, with 13% from the Asia-Pacific region. APAC leaders are distinguishing themselves by embracing proactive leadership on climate action, sustainability, and personal development, setting them apart from their peers in Europe and North America.
With 95% of global CEOs anticipating significant systemic shifts across the economy, geopolitics, energy, and technology over the next decade, APAC leaders are preparing by balancing traditional business strategies with a deeper commitment to environmental and social concerns. These CEOs are also leading the charge towards leadership that values openness, personal transformation, and collaboration.
Key Findings for APAC CEOs:
- When considering global political challenges, climate change ranked as the top concern for APAC CEOs. In contrast, populism and nationalism were the main concerns for leaders in Europe and North America. Climate change-related natural and humanitarian disasters, escalating military conflicts, and cybersecurity and AI threats are the main causes of concern for APAC leaders.
- Interestingly, when considering opportunities to foster cooperation between businesses, governments, and stakeholders, APAC leaders ranked climate change as the second most significant, just behind the regulation of new technologies such as AI. This demonstrates the region’s balanced focus on innovation and sustainability within future business strategies.
- In terms of essential adaptive skills, 99% of global CEOs valued cultivating a culture of openness and curiosity, with 97% emphasising the importance of honing their ability to listen. APAC CEOs mirrored these sentiments, further highlighting their commitment to adaptive leadership. Notably, 82% of APAC CEOs stressed the importance of including diverse and challenging perspectives—higher than their counterparts in Europe (56%) and North America (62%).
- Personal transformation is also seen as key, with 28% of APAC CEOs identifying “investing in transforming myself” as highly important, compared to 14% in Europe and 20% in North America.
- In terms of preparedness for global business complexities, 24% of APAC CEOs rated themselves at 7 out of 10, demonstrating greater confidence than their peers in Europe (16%) and North America (12%). This confidence reflects APAC leaders’ readiness to navigate uncertainties in areas such as geopolitical instability, AI adoption, and talent development.
Shifting Leadership Approaches in APAC
Wan May Ang, Partner and Singapore Office Leader at Egon Zehnder, stated, “APAC CEOs are leading a significant shift in leadership approaches, prioritising self-awareness and inclusivity as central qualities. This marks a departure from traditional hierarchical structures, towards a more adaptive and forward-thinking model.”
Michael Ensser, Global Chair of Egon Zehnder, added, “CEOs are embracing a new era of leadership. They see themselves as key architects of societal progress. As complexity increases, they realise that fostering curiosity and openness within their organisations is critical to overcoming future challenges.”
Looking Ahead: Climate Action, AI, and Leadership Transformation
The full report, The CEO Response, highlights the growing recognition among APAC leaders of the need to lead the charge on climate action and innovative solutions. APAC CEOs are uniquely positioned to integrate sustainability with technological advancement, especially in areas such as AI regulation and climate change mitigation.
To download the full report, visit: The CEO Response
