Cloud applications, digital platforms, and AI have become core components of digital value creation. As their importance grows, so do technological dependencies and the associated risks. This makes digital sovereignty a management responsibility.

For this year's CxO Priorities Study, we conducted personal interviews with more than 1000 board members worldwide from 32 countries and 16 industries – gaining valuable insights into their current strategic priorities, growth ambitions, in how they deal with geopolitical challenges, and more.

Economic uncertainty is increasingly weighing on the confidence of finance leaders. Volatile markets, geopolitical tensions, regulatory pressure, and high costs are prompting companies to reassess priorities. Based on insights from more than 240 top finance executives worldwide, the study highlights how CFOs are balancing short-term stabilization – focused on liquidity, efficiency, and risk management – with selective investments in digitalization, automation, and AI to strengthen long-term resilience.