5 things business leaders must consider for success in 2026

"As 2025 comes to a close, business leaders are inevitably already planning how 2026 will shape up, particularly as the last year proved to be a tumultuous one. The so-called AI boom is still booming, corporate DEI initiatives have shrunk or disappeared altogether, and return-to-office mandates have tightened. No one has a crystal ball to predict emerging technologies, financial headwinds, political hurdles, and market trends for the next year."

"But that doesn't mean that companies can sit back-there are steps to take now to help insulate your company against potential turbulence in the coming year, while simultaneously fostering success by focusing on the human aspects of technology and leadership. So, here are five things I'm thinking about as we head into 2026-and I welcome every other business leader to join me as we ring in yet another new year."

"Some business leaders speak about AI like they did about the internet circa 1998. But while we saw a dotcom bubble burst in the stock market, consumer appetite for e-commerce only grew and grew. The same will be true for AI-although we may see tech company value corrections, there's no bubble regarding user demand. What we're seeing instead is a seismic shift in how humans and non-humans interact with each other."

"Company leaders are approaching AI with a short-term lens-viewing it as a means to save money and drive shareholder value from a profitability perspective. This short-sighted way of planning means doing the same amount of work with less, leading to sacrifices from a product, process, or people perspective. Instead, C-suites should be looking at AI from a long-term growth lens by using it to augment and accelerate the work people are already doing."

2025 ended turbulently with sustained AI adoption, reduced corporate DEI initiatives, and tighter return-to-office mandates. Companies cannot predict all emerging technologies, financial headwinds, political hurdles, or market trends in 2026. Leaders should take steps now to insulate organizations against turbulence while emphasizing human aspects of technology and leadership. AI adoption reflects durable user demand and a seismic shift in interactions between humans and non-humans, posing risk primarily to inactive companies. C-suite strategies should prioritize long-term growth by using AI to augment and accelerate human work rather than solely cutting costs and reducing headcount.

Read at Fast Company