We keep our ear to the ground for the interesting stats, insights and discussion points you need to feel in the know to shape the future with confidence.

1. Still in play

Despite a dip in foreign investment and ongoing global uncertainty, Europe is still holding strong and even gaining appeal for the long run. Investment fell 7% in 2025, but the region still attracted over 5,000 projects and created more than 200,000 jobs, which says a lot about its underlying strength. What’s really interesting is where the money is going: fast-growing areas like AI, defense and low-carbon energy are seeing a surge, while traditional industries are slowing down. And the spotlight is drifting south and east, Spain, Poland Turkey, where costs stretch further and ambition runs high. While businesses are cautious right now, the outlook is optimistic: about 60% expect Europe to become even more attractive over the next few years. Europe still attracts, but it needs to keep earning it.

2026 foreign direct investment trends in Europe

2.  Hit the ground running

Chariot Re set out to launch fast in a really complex, highly regulated space, which is tough to pull off. With strong backing and a big goal to scale quickly, they needed everything in place from day one: systems, compliance, reporting and the right people. Building from scratch would’ve cost them momentum when it mattered most. So they tapped into a setup that gave them instant access to the tools, tech and expertise they needed. Nine months later, they were live, versus 12 to 24 months for most. And it showed early. A $10B transaction recorded in month one, followed by another closed within six months. Speed gets you noticed, but being ready is what actually wins the business.

How a bold strategy helped a reinsurer enter the market

3. Forget the office snacks, this is what matters

Kombucha on tap. Trendy office aesthetics. Sure, they’re nice perks, but culture is felt in how people treat each other. And people notice. Nearly everyone says culture plays a role in whether they stay. Values matter even more now, especially for Gen Z and millennials, who are quick to walk when words don’t match reality. Meanwhile, most employees want to grow but don’t feel their company is really investing in them. Gen Z is chasing skills, opportunities and a sense that they’re actually building something. When the day to day falls short, even the best perks start to feel a bit hollow…

EY US 2025 Generation Survey: addressing generational workplace preferences

4. Getting real

AI in energy is starting to feel real. After years of pilots, leaders are looking at the numbers and asking, is this actually helping? Some teams see progress. Others are still going in circles. In oil and gas, the tools are there, but everyday work still runs through old, disconnected systems. In utilities, the pace is slower by design. Reliability matters. But expectations keep creeping up. This is the part no one talks about much. The unglamorous work underneath it all. When that begins to settle, things start to move. That’s when AI stops being a bet and starts earning its keep.

Energy cautiously enters the next stage of AI adoption

5. Pressure test

AI is moving fast, but people are feeling it more than anyone admits. Teams save hours, then find their days filling back up again. Skills improve, expectations climb and the pace just keeps ticking up. You can feel the strain. The companies pulling ahead tend to take a step back first. They look at how roles actually play out day to day, tweak what doesn’t make sense, and make a real effort to hold onto the time AI opens up instead of letting it quietly fill back in. Get the work right first. Otherwise, any extra capacity disappears just as quickly as it shows up.

AI and people: 5 tensions at work

If you do one thing:

Make sure you get the culture right.