Alliance Perspectives

July 07, 2025

Case categories include: CEO Survey   

Introduction

The Business Barometer was created to provide a real-time pulse from business leaders who are at the helm of businesses in every industry and market sector around the world as they navigate increasing complexity across the global economy. At a time of acute economic and geopolitical volatility, executive decision-making cannot rely on lagging indicators.

Summary

This Q2 2025 Business Barometer includes responses from 340 business leaders across every major industry sector who are largely based in the U.S. but also includes leaders in 15 countries.

The insights reveal a stark contrast between pessimism driven by present-day conditions and optimism for the long-term. We also gained insights into the actions CEOs are taking to invest in new products and R&D, rethink pricing, enter new markets and embrace AI and new technologies. In addition to new initiatives, they are also shoring up current businesses by trimming underperforming products and markets and focusing on productivity and cash flow.

Read the full Q2 2025 Business Barometer report here 
(demographics, full data and anonymous, direct quotes from leaders that capture the current mindset)

3 Key Topic Areas

• Sentiment
• Economic Pressures (across 12 key business categories)
• Actions being taken and plans being made

Strategic Insights by Segment

1. Industry-Specific Pressures

• Healthcare & Life Sciences face the strongest headwinds. Tight capital markets, rising tariffs, regulatory burdens and geopolitical tensions are cited as major constraints on growth and innovation.
• Technology & Financial Services show uneven resilience, with digital infrastructure investments proceeding, but hiring slowing markedly.

2. Company Size & Capital Structure

• Public and venture-backed companies are under the greatest pressure, with disproportionate reductions in headcount and sharper pricing responses.
• Privately-held and small & mid-sized companies show more agility, less exposure to market expectations, and a greater tendency to pause rather than pivot.

3. Functional Perspectives

• CFOs are torn between caution and conviction. They are the most vocal about AI’s strategic potential but also express greater stress due to inflation, interest rate volatility, and currency risk.
• CEOs are leaning into opportunities for long-term growth and the opportunity to move faster than their competitors in these uncertain times.

4. Geographic Trends

• International companies see more opportunities to expand into new markets.

Why It Matters

This initial Business Barometer is the first in a planned quarterly series aimed not at forecasting the future, but at revealing the real-world pressures influencing executive decision-making today. Our hope is that the Business Barometer serves as a trusted signal for fellow leaders navigating complexity and change and seeking clarity in uncertain times.

We’d love to hear your feedback—and to include your perspective in future surveys. To contribute to the next edition or share your ideas, contact us at info@allianceofceos.com. Be sure to also join the broader dialogue by following the Alliance’s LinkedIn page.

Participating Organizations & Members

This Q2 2025 Business Barometer includes insights from the members of the following leadership organizations: Alliance of Chief Executives, Athena Alliance, BenchBoard CEO-CFO Coaching, Board Harbor Foundation, CEO Roundtable (Boston), CEO Roundtable (Minneapolis), Colorado Concern, Directors Academy, Global Data Innovation, The Institute for Entrepreneurship (Atlanta), Operators Guild, The Circle by Founders Circle Capital, and Virginia Council of CEOs.