How C-Suite Leaders Are Navigating Current and Future Risks

As today’s risk landscape grows increasingly volatile and interconnected, how are business leaders rising to the challenge? In a recent Nasdaq TradeTalks segment, Matt Moore, Global Leader of Risk & Compliance at Protiviti, and Dr. Mark Beasley, Director of the ERM Initiative at NC State, sat down with Nasdaq’s Jill Malandrino to explore how boards and C-suite leaders are preparing for both near-term threats and long-term uncertainty.

This timely conversation draws directly from the findings of the 2024 Executive Perspectives on Top Risks report—one of the most comprehensive global surveys on risk, featuring insights from over 1,200 board members and senior executives across industries and regions.

Key Takeaways from the Discussion

Executives are recognizing that business risks don’t exist in silos. Economic shifts, workforce shortages, technology disruption, and geopolitical instability are increasingly interrelated—and require integrated responses.

Top Near-Term Risk: Economic Uncertainty

The survey highlights economic outlook as the leading concern for the next 12–36 months, encompassing inflation, interest rates, labor availability, and supply chain pressures.

Long-Term Vision: Strategic Agility by 2035

Looking ahead to 2035, business leaders are focused on modernizing their operations, building resilient workforces, and investing in emerging technologies to gain a competitive edge in a rapidly shifting marketplace.

AI: Both Opportunity and Risk

Artificial Intelligence features prominently on the list of top concerns—leaders are eager to leverage AI for strategic growth but are equally cautious about deploying it responsibly, with the right skills and safeguards in place.

Culture and Communication Are Strategic Differentiators

Organizations that prioritize cross-functional risk communication and have embedded risk-aware cultures are better positioned to act quickly and strategically, mitigating threats while seizing new opportunities.

Explore the Full Report: Executive Perspectives on Top Risks

The 2024 Executive Perspectives on Top Risks report—co-produced by the ERM Initiative at NC State and Protiviti—offers in-depth data and analysis of risks most concerning to global executives. The study provides two time-horizon views:

• Short-Term Risks (2024–2026)
• Long-Term Risks (2035 Horizon)

Why This Matters for ERM Leaders

ERM professionals can use these insights to:

• Benchmark board and C-suite priorities against peer organizations
• Strengthen scenario planning and forecasting practices
• Build alignment between risk oversight and strategic planning
• Prepare their organizations to remain resilient, agile, and future-ready

Original Source: Matt Moore, Global Leader of Risk & Compliance at Protiviti and Dr. Mark Beasley, Professor & Director of the ERM Initiative at the Poole College of Management at North Carolina State University, join Jill Malandrino on Nasdaq TradeTalks to discuss which issues are a priority for the C-suite and board members and how leaders are mitigating current and emerging risks.