Top Business Trends in 2025 and in 2026

 

2025

In 2025, the business landscape was defined by the transition of Artificial Intelligence from experimental pilots to core operational infrastructure, alongside a mandatory focus on sustainability and human-centric leadership. 

1. The Rise of "Agentic AI" and Hyper-Automation

Beyond simple chatbots, 2025 marks the shift to Agentic AI—autonomous systems capable of making decisions and executing complex workflows with minimal human oversight. 

• Operational Impact: Companies are using AI to automate 30%–50% of routine tasks in finance, marketing, and customer service.
• Hyper-Personalization: Businesses leverage real-time behavioral data to tailor every customer interaction, a strategy that is now driving 40% faster revenue growth for early adopters. 

2. Mandatory Sustainability and the Circular Economy

Sustainability has moved from a "nice-to-have" marketing asset to a core business requirement due to new regulations like the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). 

• Circular Models: Leading brands are adopting "product-as-a-service" and buy-back programs (e.g., IKEA) to minimize waste.
• Green Finance: Global ESG assets are projected to surpass $50 trillion in 2025, reshaping how capital is allocated to businesses. 

3. Human-Centric Leadership and "Re-humanization"

As AI handles more technical tasks, the value of unique human skills is rising. There is a strong counter-trend toward re-humanizing marketing and sales to differentiate from generic AI-generated content. 

• Emotional Intelligence: Managers are shifting their focus from results-only oversight to coaching, mentorship, and fostering inclusion.
• Workplace Well-being: High-performing companies are integrating holistic mental health programs as a competitive advantage to attract and retain top talent. 

4. Resilience Amidst Global Volatility

With global GDP growth capped at 3.3% and ongoing geopolitical tensions, operational resilience has become a baseline for performance. 

• Supply Chain Diversification: Businesses are moving away from single-source suppliers and adopting "self-healing" supply chains that use AI to reroute logistics in real-time.
• Digital Trust: Cybersecurity is now treated as a critical risk-control layer rather than just an IT function, with 72% of organizations adopting "Zero-Trust" security architectures. 

5. The Permanent Hybrid Work Paradigm 

Hybrid work is no longer an interim measure but a long-term strategic advantage for 2025. 

• Outcome-Centric Models: Companies are moving away from tracking hours worked to tracking outcomes, supported by AI-powered productivity analytics.
• Upskilling Imperative: To bridge the "skills gap" caused by rapid tech changes, 56% of companies have integrated dedicated upskilling programs into their daily operations. 

2026

In 2026, the global business landscape will be defined by the transition of Artificial Intelligence from an experimental tool to a core "silicon workforce," coupled with a "re-humanization" of leadership and a move toward structural operational resilience in a fragmented geopolitical environment. 

1. The Era of Agentic AI and Autonomous Operations

The primary shift in 2026 is from Generative AI (content creation) to Agentic AI (task execution). 

• The Silicon Workforce: AI "agents" will move beyond simple assistance to autonomously managing end-to-end business processes, such as reconciling complex financial transactions, onboarding employees, or managing multi-stage supply chain logistics.
• Agentic Platforms: Organizations are shifting from individual AI tools to integrated agentic platforms that function as a new layer of operational infrastructure, potentially reducing the need for traditional software licenses.
• Vibe Coding and Innovation: "Vibe coding"—using natural language to build software—is expected to go mainstream, allowing non-technical employees to develop custom applications rapidly. 

2. The "Re-humanization" of Work and Skills

As technical tasks are automated, unique human capabilities are gaining a "digital premium" in the labor market. 

• Power Skills over Soft Skills: Leadership is pivoting toward "Power Skills"—emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and the ability to manage "augmented teams" where humans and machines work side-by-side.
• Skills-First Hiring: 2026 is predicted to be the year that skills-based hiring definitively overtakes degree-based recruitment for many roles.
• The AI Generalist: A new class of workers—AI Generalists—is emerging. These are professionals who understand broad business functions well enough to orchestrate and oversee the AI agents performing specialized tasks. 

3. Structural Resilience and Supply Chain "Geopatriation"

Businesses are moving away from global efficiency-only models toward models built for survival in a volatile geopolitical climate. 

• Near-shoring and Localization: "Globalization 2.0" focuses on supply security over cost, leading to increased near-shoring and the creation of localized "self-healing" supply chains.
• Geopatriation: Organizations are increasingly moving data and digital workloads to sovereign or regional cloud providers to mitigate the risk of geopolitical lockdowns. 

4. Sustainability as a Strategic Asset

Sustainability is shifting from a marketing "add-on" to a mandatory driver of business growth. 

• The Circular Economy: Circular business models—focused on product longevity, recycling, and "as-a-service" options—are becoming baseline requirements to meet strict 2026 regulatory standards like the EU's CSRD.
• AI for Green Returns: AI is being deployed specifically to find "green alpha," such as identifying customers willing to pay premiums for sustainable products or optimizing transport routes to lower both emissions and fuel costs. 

5. Cybersecurity as Boardroom Accountability

Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT function; by 2026, it is a core survival strategy with direct executive liability. 

• Boardroom Responsibility: Executive compensation and performance contracts are increasingly being tied to measurable cybersecurity outcomes.
• The "Ambient" Defense: Companies are moving toward "Zero-Trust" architectures where security is ambient and built-in, using AI security agents to proactively hunt and neutralize threats at machine speed. 

GDP per capita across Europe

 

The most powerful economies in Europe in 1961 - 2025

 The most powerful economies in Europe in 2025

Align the Organization: People, Purpose & Performance

 

True alignment occurs when an organization’s strategy is turned into action at the business and support unit level, and then into action at the employee level for individual employees and teams of employees.

By Howard Rohm & David Jalili

https://tinyurl.com/5as35nz2

Master Your Leadership Formula

 

Here's how to build your personal formula for leadership.

The Harvard Business Review reports that 75% of employees prefer authentic leaders, highlighting the value of embracing one's true personality.

So, how can you create your formula?

Today we are going to help leaders master this by using:

‘The Periodic Table of Leadership'.

My Top 10 Favorite Elements

1. Empathy

   • Pay full attention to the speaker, acknowledge their feelings, and respond thoughtfully.

   • Put yourself in others' shoes to comprehend their viewpoints and emotions.

2. Vision

   • Define a compelling future with specific, measurable objectives.

   • Share your vision passionately and frequently to inspire and align your team.

3. Integrity

   • Always tell the truth, even when it's difficult, and admit mistakes openly.

   • Keep your promises and commitments consistently.

4. Confidence

   • Trust in your abilities and decisions; practice self-affirmation daily.

   • Speak and act with certainty to instill confidence in others.

5. Trustworthiness

   • Consistently perform your duties and meet expectations.

   • Ensure team members feel secure and confident in sharing their thoughts.

6. Adaptability

   • Be open to new ideas and flexible in your approach.

   • Stay curious and keep updating your skills and knowledge.

7. Resilience

   • Focus on solutions and recovery after setbacks or failures.

   • Keep a positive outlook and encourage it in your team, even in tough times.

8. Communication

   • Express your ideas straightforwardly and ensure understanding.

   • Make open dialogue the “norm” and actively listen to feedback from your team.

9. Accountability

   • Take responsibility for your actions and their outcomes, both good and bad.

   • Encourage a culture where everyone is responsible for their roles and results.

10. Innovation

    • Create an environment where new ideas are welcomed and explored.

    • Be willing to experiment and try new approaches without fear of failure.

Empathy

Years ago I was put in as a brand new manager and my new team was facing a challenging issue with declining morale.

The main problem was that the team felt unheard and undervalued.

They were struggling to keep up with the shifting priorities and felt that their hard work was not being recognized by executive management.

This led to a drop in motivation and a sense of disconnection from the project's goals.

To address this, I decided to approach the situation with empathy.

Here’s how I did it.

Listening Actively:

I organized a meeting where I encouraged everyone to share their thoughts and feelings about the current situation.

I made sure to listen without interrupting and acknowledged their concerns.

I asked questions to understand their perspectives better and took notes on their feedback.

Seeing Their Side:

After gathering their feedback, I took the time to put myself in their shoes.

I reflected on how the frequent changes and lack of communication might be affecting their work and well-being.

This helped me understand their frustration and see the situation from their perspective.

Addressing Concerns:

I communicated these insights to the management team and worked with them to create a more stable project plan.

We agreed to minimize changes and improve our communication by providing regular updates and being transparent about the reasons behind any shifts in direction.

Showing Appreciation:

I made sure to recognize and appreciate the team's hard work and adaptability during these challenging times.

We celebrated small wins and acknowledged individual contributions publicly, which boosted morale.

Outcome:

By implementing these empathetic steps, the team's morale significantly improved.

They felt valued and understood, which led to increased motivation, better productivity, less stress, and more connection to their goals.

Here's how you can make it real over the next 4 days:

Day 1: Observe and Reflect

• Choose one of the leadership elements you want to work on most this week.

• Spend today observing situations related to the element you chose.

• Reflect on how you and others display or lack this element.

• Take notes on specific instances and how they made you feel or how they affected the team.

  • Example: If you chose "Empathy," observe how people respond to others' emotions and reflect on your own responses.

• ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Today I'm focusing on observing how [insert element, e.g., Empathy] is shown in my workplace. Help me understand what behaviors and actions to look for, and how to reflect on them effectively.”

Day 2: Practice in a Small Way

• Find a small, manageable way to practice your chosen element today.

• Start with simple actions that you can easily incorporate into your routine.

  • Example: If you chose "Adaptability," try adjusting your approach to a minor task or accepting a small change without resistance.

• ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Today I want to practice [insert element, e.g., Adaptability] in a small way. Suggest simple actions or steps I can take to start applying this element in my daily routine."

Day 3: Get Feedback

• Ask a colleague or friend for feedback on how you demonstrated the element you are working on.

• Be open to their input and ask for specific examples.

  • Example: If you chose "Communication," ask a team member if they felt your recent message was clear and engaging.

• ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "I need to ask someone for feedback on how I've demonstrated [insert element, e.g., Communication]. Help me frame questions to get useful feedback and tips on how to be open to their input."

Day 4: Reflect and Plan Ahead

• Reflect on your experiences over the past three days.

• Consider what worked well and what challenges you faced.

• Plan how you will continue to develop this element in your daily routine.

  • Example: If you chose "Resilience," think about the challenges you faced and how you bounced back. Plan how to maintain a positive outlook in future difficult situations.

• ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Today I want to reflect on my progress with [insert element, e.g., Resilience] over the past few days. Help me think through what went well, what was challenging, and how I can plan to keep improving this element in the future."

Focusing on one element at a time will lead to significant transformations.

Even small shifts in how you lead will inspire and uplift those around you.

These changes may seem minor.

But collectively = they create a powerful impact on your team and your work culture.

This Week’s Growth Recommendations

Book To Read:

"Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts." by Brené Brown (see it here)

TED Talk to Watch

"What It Takes to Be a Great Leader" by Roselinde Torres (see it here)

https://tinyurl.com/3d5n4kr9