People and purpose: Talent strategy in an unpredictable world

Our 19th Annual Global CEO survey asked over 1,400 business leaders for their views. Issues around talent were high on the CEO agenda.

Businesses and their leaders are facing some pressing questions about their future talent pipelines and people strategy. The pace of technological, political and economic change has left CEOs standing on constantly shifting ground. But this year’s survey has uncovered another obstacle.

People want to support and work for organisations they can trust, with values that mirror their own. Consumers and customers are looking for more responsible and ethical goods, services, brands, companies and employers.

Any organisation that fails to deliver what stakeholders are looking for will suffer. Corporate purpose is the new mantra; societal value the benchmark. To find out more, read our new report - People and purpose: Talent strategy in an unpredictable world.

According to the report:

• 75% of CEOs are making changes to values, ethics and codes of conduct in response to wider stakeholder expectations
• 24% changed their purpose in the last three years to make it focused on societal value
• 67% of CEOs think that in five years, talent will prefer to work for organisations with social values that match their own
• 76% of CEOs think business success in the 21st century will be measured by much more than just financial results