Transforming leaders of today and tomorrow for far-reaching changes that lie ahead

Egon Zehnder works closely with Boards as well as leaders, helping them find their unique voice and uncover the potential they might not otherwise recognize

- Francesco Buquicchio, Global CEO, Egon Zehnder and Vineet Hemrajani, Managing Partner, Egon Zehnder India

In a rapidly changing world, being prepared is everything. Egon Zehnder combines its deep industry knowledge and unparalleled networks to ensure that organizations always have the right people ready to lead. Francesco Buquicchio, Global CEO, Egon Zehnder—who is in India to mark Egon Zehnder celebrating 30 years of being in this country—and Vineet Hemrajani, Managing Partner, Egon Zehnder India share their insights on the trends in CEO succession, leadership and organization effectiveness, driving impactful change and more.

What are the top of mind issues for global Boards and CEOs these days? How has this changed over the last few years?

Francesco Buquicchio: In the past decades, the challenges were straightforward and clear; each had a distinct solution. Today, we face a "polycrisis"—a convergence of multiple issues. While this might sound pessimistic, I see it as an era of opportunity, as do many CEOs. AI, new geopolitical shifts, growth pressures, sustainability demands, and cybersecurity risks, all weigh on the minds of CEOs and Boards alike. This landscape has shifted decision-making from the merely complicated to the truly complex. Recently, in an Egon Zehnder (EZ) survey of 500 global CEOs, 76% predicted even more disruptive change in the decade ahead. Unlike structured approaches that address complicated issues, today's complexities call for adaptive, human-centered leadership.

Where do you see the 'stretch' for them to respond to these challenges and how is EZ supporting them?