2026 C-Suite Barometer Mid-Year Pulse: The Global View

In our 2026 C-Suite Barometer, adaptability defined the outlook. Six months on, that adaptability has a name: diversification. Growth optimism holds firm—but confidence is eroding, and leaders are responding with intent. They’re spreading risk and opportunity across markets, supply chains, capital, and technology rather than doubling down on a single bet. The question is no longer whether to diversify. It’s how to do it with purpose and speed.

The Numbers That Matter

92%

Of C-suite leaders maintain a positive growth outlook — steady since the start of 2026*

35%

Confidence Index—down 8 points since the start of 2026, and the lowest reading since 2021*

63%

Now report measurable AI productivity returns of up to 10%. AI’s returns era has begun*

* C-Suite Barometer: 2026 Mid-Year Pulse Insights

Executive Leadership Insights: The US Lens

For North American leaders, this isn’t a distant global story. Economic trends are the dominant pressure—cited by 46% of U.S. leaders and Canadian executives as the top force reshaping their environment. The same pressure is driving the diversification response playing out worldwide. If your strategy still concentrates risk in one market, one supplier, or one revenue stream, the data suggests now is the time to act.

Next Steps

Scale AI With Governance & Clear Results

Shift funding from stalled pilots to outcomes you can measure—built on responsible use policies, intentional controls, governance expectations, and accountability for human judgment.

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Methodology—2026 Mid-Year Pulse

These global findings are drawn from a mid-2026 pulse survey of 1,092 C-suite respondents across 18 countries, including 102 in the United States.

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