Fortune/Deloitte CEO Survey
CEOs focus on resilience and renewed optimism
Fall 2025
Shifting gears: CEOs recalibrate for stability and growth
As CEOs navigate a rapidly changing environment, recalibration and resilience remain essential to staying on course. The Fall 2025 Fortune/Deloitte CEO Survey, fielded October 3–16, captures their perspectives on leading through this pace of change.
When US tariffs were first introduced, uncertainty and pessimism spiked among survey respondents in the Spring 2025 Survey. Since then, CEOs have had several months to better understand what changing policies may mean for their businesses, industries, and the economy. The fall survey reflects renewed optimism about the global economy, their industries, and company performance, even as leaders grapple with a mix of risks and opportunities. Given the dynamic economic and trade policy landscape, CEOs are focused on cutting costs, strategically addressing pricing, and strengthening supply chains for resilience, all while maintaining their current investment plans. Read on for more key insights from the Fall 2025 Fortune/Deloitte CEO Survey.
Key Insights
Outlook and Disruptors
The top challenges for CEOs centered on the pace and degree of change; one CEO shares “unprecedented degree of unprecedented changes” while another is concerned about “employees coping with level of change.” Uncertainty also remains top of mind for surveyed CEOs, especially regarding the policy and geopolitical landscape. CEOs also shared concerns for talent as another top challenge, including gaps in skillsets.
Implications for AI
As AI adoption continues, surveyed CEOs expect the greatest impact on core processes and resource allocation, while nearly a quarter see opportunities for transformational impact in shaping long-term vision and direction. Nearly a quarter see opportunities for transformational impact in shaping long-term vision and direction. CEOs anticipate the least impact on M&A partnerships and strategy and on risk and resilience. When assessing AI’s impact, most are measuring cost savings and operational efficiency (84%), and more than half (64%) see employee adoption as an indicator of success. As adoption accelerates, CEOs are establishing clear AI usage policies (69%) and cultivating a culture around ethical use (56%).
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Statistics that stand out
see tariffs as a benefits-risks mix for their companies.
are likely to implement cost-cutting measures.
plan to make little changes to investment plans.
expect AI to impact long-term vision and direction.
“With renewed optimism this fall, CEOs are focused on stability and growth. After months of uncertainty around policy and economic shifts, they’re recalibrating to cut costs where needed, strengthen supply chains, and apply AI to boost efficiency and resilience.”
Jason Girzadas, CEO, Deloitte US
