Business Leaders Feeling Stuck in a Crisis‑Loop
Ever feel like you’re walking a tightrope that’s suddenly turned into a full‑blown circus? According to the latest annual Global Risk Landscape Report 2025, that’s exactly what 84 % of international business leaders are experiencing. The world’s risk maze has truly become a never‑ending episode, and the office alerts are now coming at a pace that’d make a drummer jealous.
What’s Keeping CEOs on Edge?
- Regulatory Overreach – A constant stream of new rules that feel more like a fine‑tuning concert than a simple compliance checklist.
- Supply‑Chain Hiccups – From shipping delays to ingredient shortages, every link feels like a potential plot twist.
- Talent Tug‑of‑War – Hiring and retaining top recruits now feels like sprinting a marathon while juggling fire.
- Geopolitical Hoopla – Diplomatic tensions that can destabilise markets faster than a meme can go viral.
- Environmental Pressure – Climate change and sustainability mandates that seem to keep tightening the net.
- Cyber‑Wanderings – Hackers in the shadows, constantly plotting ways to steal the heartbeat of the business.
How CEOs Are Coping
Surprisingly, 69 % of leaders say their companies are now “risk‑averse” or “risk‑minimizing”. That’s a jump from last year’s 61 %.
Only a handful, about 7 % of executives, deemed their risk management “very proactive” – down sharply from the 19 % in 2024. The rest seem to be stuck hauntingly between caution and ambition.
Regulators? Helpful or Just Adding Paperwork?
- 39 % of CEOs believe regulatory demands truly enhance safety.
- 57 % think that these demands are only somewhat helpful, almost as useful as a cup of lukewarm coffee.
Yet, many CEOs feel that the “box‑ticking” approach is a waste – the costs are high, the gains are low.
Alisa Voznaya’s Take on the Chaos
“The risk landscape is a decade‑long rollercoaster that keeps spinning and shows no signs of a break.”
“When leaders become terrified of the next twist, they freeze. This safety‑first vibe means they miss clicks of shiny opportunities buzzing in the air.”
“A lot of businesses are now playing the compliance game, turning risk into a spreadsheet exercise, which can be mad distracting. Instead, thinking ahead with scenario planning can bring hidden treasures before someone steals them.”
Survey Snapshot
BDO polled 500 C‑suite executives across a variety of global sectors: finance, energy, healthcare, manufacturing and private equity – all running businesses with at least $100 million in revenue.
Why It Matters
If you’re still sitting on a “just in case” plan, it might be time to stir things up. Companies that jump off the bandwagon of risk aversion and plan proactively can turn challenges into competitive gains. Don’t let the crisis buzz drown your business’s brilliance; embrace the unpredictability and watch it catalyse growth.
