MUMBAI, 22 July 2025 – As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms global business landscapes and supply chains adapt to geopolitical shifts, India has the potential to emerge as a critical market and innovation hub. Oliver Wyman Forum’s latest CEO Agenda 2025 insights show that 95% of CEOs of NYSE-listed companies – many of whom oversee a global footprint – see AI as a critical growth engine. Additionally, 95% are actively pursuing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and disruptive business models to capture emerging opportunities.
Despite this optimism, significant risks loom: 68% identify regulation as a threat, 90% highlight inflation as a critical concern, and 89% point to geopolitical instability as a major disruption to their global operations.
While the Oliver Wyman Forum’s CEO Agenda 2025 survey focuses on insights from 165 CEOs of NYSE-listed companies, the trends it reveals – AI-driven growth, supply chain realignment, and talent transformation – mirror the dynamic shifts underway in India’s economy, positioning Indian businesses to capitalize on these global forces.
Sumit Sarawgi, Head of Oliver Wyman India, said, “India’s rapidly digitizing workforce and widespread AI adoption create a powerful platform for competitive advantage. With 83% of Indian employees using generative AI tools weekly – outpacing many developed markets – India is well positioned to lead the next wave of digital transformation.”
He added, “However, technology alone won’t guarantee success. Indian CEOs must invest decisively in talent development, build resilient supply chains, and navigate geopolitical shifts with agility. This convergence of AI, workforce transformation, and supply chain realignment presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Indian business leaders to shape the future.”
FURTHER KEY FINDINGS FROM THE REPORT
Navigating a Volatile Geopolitical Landscape
The report shows a marked increase in geopolitical concerns, with 89% of CEOs identifying geopolitics, trade policies, tariffs, and industrial regulations as key risks – a 20-percentage point rise from 2024. CEOs are prioritizing agile, diversified supply chains and enhanced understanding of policy shifts affecting sourcing, production, and market access. India, alongside Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, is identified in the report as a major beneficiary of global supply chain realignment, reflecting a strategic reconfiguration of manufacturing and sourcing.
AI Emerges as a Defining Force for Opportunity and Impact
Ninety-five percent of CEOs recognize AI as a significant opportunity. Sixty percent already see some quantified impact from AI (at least 1% of their company’s overall cost savings or revenue growth), while 17% report improvement of more than 10% in total cost savings or revenue gains. Larger enterprises report greater returns, with 24% citing significant gains compared to 13% of small and medium-sized businesses.
Prioritizing Talent and Culture in an AI-Driven World
Talent attraction, development, and retention are now a major business opportunity for 75% of CEOs, up 25 percentage points from 2024. Eighty-seven percent plan to enhance or transform employee skills within two years, reflecting a focus on workforce agility and continuous learning.
Driving Growth Through Discipline and Innovation
Growth remains a priority for 68% of CEOs, up from 56% in 2024. This is supported by disciplined cost management, now a top three priority for 70% of CEOs, compared to 39% last year. Planning horizons are shortening, with 43% of CEO time focused on strategies with timeframes under one year. Additionally, 95% of CEOs plan M&A activity over the next one to two years.
Overall, the new Oliver Wyman Forum research emphasizes the need for adaptive leadership characterized by resilience, foresight, and strategic agility. It highlights that geopolitical tensions, technological disruption, and workforce transformation are interconnected risks that demand integrated management approaches to ensure sustained competitive advantage.
By adopting a ‘geopolitics-first’ mindset, strategically leveraging AI, fostering agility, investing in their workforce, and pursuing growth through disciplined cost management, Indian CEOs and businesses can not only navigate the current disruptions but also emerge as stronger, more resilient global players.