Trending Topics for Winter 2026
Artificial Intelligence in workplace
AI is changing corporate leadership by shifting the job from “making decisions with reports” to “running an organization where decisions and work are increasingly machine-assisted.” Leaders are expected to move faster, iterate more, and manage greater complexity because AI can generate options instantly—but it can also amplify errors, bias, and risk just as quickly. That forces executives to set clearer guardrails (what AI can do, what requires human approval), build stronger governance and accountability, and ensure there’s traceability for how decisions were made. That creates pressure to reskill employees, redefine roles, update performance expectations, and keep culture and trust intact during rapid change.
Tech modernization at scale
Modernization is reshaping how HR demonstrates value. Leaders increasingly expect evidence that technology investments are improving productivity and the employee experience, which means HR must translate people data into business results—such as faster time-to-productivity, stronger retention in critical roles, higher internal fill rates, measurable skill growth, and added capacity through automation. This shift draws HR deeper into analytics, data governance, and shared reporting with Finance and IT. Just as important, modernization elevates the change leadership and culture work. HR often becomes the driver of enablement—clear communications, manager toolkits, adoption-focused training, listening loops, and reinforcement—so new systems don’t just go live, but actually change how work gets done.
Geopolitics, trade, and supply chain resilience
Geopolitics and shifting trade rules are turning supply chains into a board-level priority, forcing organizations to rethink how they source, move, and protect critical inputs. This also changes management expectations: leaders must make faster decisions with incomplete information, align cross-functional teams (procurement, finance, legal, operations, and sales), and build clear accountability for risk monitoring, compliance, and response. This insight explores how organizations can strengthen resilience through scenario planning, deeper supplier-tier visibility, stronger trade and export-control discipline, and smarter network design—so operations stay stable, costs stay controlled, and growth isn’t derailed when disruptions hit.
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