We keep our ear to the ground for the interesting stats, insights and discussion points you need to feel in the know and shape the future with confidence.
1. Work, reimagined
Nearly 90% of workers are using AI but let’s be real, most of it is basic. Over half just use it to search and a third to summarize docs. Meanwhile, workloads keep climbing and AI anxiety is through the roof. So here’s the question: how do you turn AI from a shortcut into a superpower? It starts with building the trifecta — skills, tools, and mindset. Train beyond the basics, give people role-specific AI tools, and make adoption part of the culture, not an optional experiment. Because when employees treat AI as a thought partner, not just a search engine, you unlock hours of productivity, better decisions, and real business impact. AI isn’t waiting. Why are you?
How the future is shaped by an untethered workforce
2. Dancing to a new beat
Long-term plans? Yesterday’s dance. The Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) now moves to a faster beat, shaping strategy in real time. The latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook finds CEOs confident despite volatility, leaning into mergers and acquisitions, alliances, and joint ventures to secure talent and tech. CSOs are choreographing transformation with artificial intelligence and analytics, turning uncertainty into opportunity. Strategy today is less about rigid routines and more about improvisation where agility and collaboration set the rhythm for growth…
Does the Chief Strategy Officer need to evolve from a pathfinder to a conductor?
3. Power couple
When AI meets tax, sparks fly and efficiency soars. Eighty-six percent of tax and finance leaders rank AI as their top priority, expecting it to boost effectiveness by 30% and unlock 23% more budget for strategic work. Pair that with sweeping global tax reforms like Pillar Two, and this duo becomes unstoppable. Together, they’re reshaping compliance, powering predictive insights, and turning disruption into opportunity. In a world where agility is everything, AI and tax aren’t just collaborating… they’re rewriting the playbook for growth.
How can tax and finance leaders build agile functions that thrive?
4. Global strategy on hard mode
Geopolitics isn’t lurking in the background anymore, it’s crashing the boardroom party. Tariffs, sanctions, and trade curveballs are rewriting the rules overnight, while data restrictions and social pressures pile on the drama. EY-Parthenon’s latest research shows execs know these risks are huge yet plenty are still getting blindsided. From hard bans to reputation landmines, global strategy is officially in “hard mode.” Businesses must stop playing defense and start owning the game by rethinking supply chains, operations, and partnerships with a sharp eye on politics. Whether you go global, cozy up to friendly markets, or double down at home, the point is clear…make bold, deliberate moves that turn chaos into a competitive edge.
How geopolitics is putting corporate strategy-setting on hard mode
5. In the trenches
After 30 years in the tax trenches, we’ve learned that most companies want to play by the rules, but tight budgets and nonstop legislative curveballs make that easier said than done. EY’s 2024 TFO (Tax and Finance Operate) survey shows cost constraints are the biggest roadblock to building a modern tax function, even as compliance demands get more granular and tech heavy. The irony isn’t lost on us. Skimping on upfront investment often costs more later when audits uncover mistakes. And with tax authorities supercharging their game using AI and mountains of real-time data, the margin for error is shrinking fast. Everything you need to know about staying compliant without losing your edge is here…
If you do one thing:
Get proactive because reacting costs more.
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