HLB Survey of Business Leaders

Capturing insight into today’s most pressing business issues through conversations with senior executives from mid-market sized companies.
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About HLB Survey of Business Leaders

First launched in 2020, the HLB Survey of Business Leaders is an annual global piece of research, capturing insight into today’s most pressing business issues through conversations with senior executives from mid-market sized companies.

Survey data collection takes place once a year during the final quarter of the calendar year, and includes responses from 50+ countries across the globe and several sectors. Responses are collected via an online platform as well as by phone.

Our survey findings can be discovered across multiple HLB Insights publications. The data is segmented in various ways and utilised extensively in publications produced across the HLB global network.

Now in its sixth consecutive year, we aim to produce valuable insight from and for business leaders from mid-market size companies, that helps navigate today’s challenging business landscape and inform important decision-making.

HLB Survey of Business Leaders 2025 |
Expert panel discussion

How can organisations power-up their profitability? With cumulative concern within the global business landscape at its highest, we look at the ways in which businesses can overcome their caution and place confidence in innovation, operational and workforce efficiency.

Watch our livestreamed panel, as we reveal the findings of our 2025 survey. HLB Global CEO Marco Donzelli and prominent business experts Tracy Vegro OBE, Dr. Oana-Maria Pop and John Toon engaged in a lively discussion, answering your questions around powering up your profitability. 

HLB Survey of Business Leaders insights series

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Survey of Business Leaders 2025

Discover more about powering-up your profitability with a focus on efficiency over expansion in the HLB Survey of Business Leaders 2025.

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Where are you on the AI maturity curve?

Where are you on the AI maturity curve? Benchmark your business against our Global survey data on AI adoption using our interactive self-assessment tool.

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Survey of Business Leaders 2024

Discover more about embracing AI for competitive advantage in the HLB Survey of Business Leaders 2024.

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Leading through a perfect storm

Discover the challenge business leaders face in leading through a perfect storm in our HLB Survey of Business Leaders 2023.

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Powering your innovation engine

HLB's Survey of Business Leaders 2022 explores the actions CEOs are taking to power innovation and growth, as well as what threats are high on their risk radar.

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The Execution Challenge for a New Decade

HLB's Survey of Business Leaders aims to inform and stimulate the debate on how businesses are preparing for the 2020's. Findings show CEO's face an execution challenge in the new decade.

2024 Sector insights

2024 Regional insights

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From sand to silicon: AI adoption in the Middle East and Africa

Business leaders’ confidence in the Middle East and Africa is on the rise: 90% are confident in their ability to grow revenue this year. So which emerging technologies and revised strategies are leaders utilising to drive this growth and business innovation? Read the full regional report.

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North America: Preparing for an AI-led growth cycle

Our in-depth insights from North America shows the region's leaders confidence in their ability to grow throughout 2024, with 91% expressing positive sentiments. Discover how North American organisations are capturing the most value from AI adoption.

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Leaders in APAC: Adopting AI to prosper

The APAC region has delivered a strong recovery post-pandemic, with rapid economic expansion of domestic products and services consumption after lifting COVID restrictions. 82% of APAC leaders feel confident in their own ability to grow their revenues this year. However, confidence levels have gone down by 7% from last year....

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Europe: A cautious path to AI maturity

The majority of European leaders (41%) identify as AI 'Explorers', already either using AI to an extent or preparing a case for adoption. However, compared to all regions, Europe also has the largest fraction of leaders (21%) who are cautious or averse to AI. Discover the full regional outlook from...

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LATAM: Business confidence driven by innovation and AI

Discover the key insights from 2024's HLB Survey of Business Leaders from the LATAM (Latin America) region, where leaders express an unwavering confidence amid economic challenges and attitudes to AI adoption are amongst the most innovative across the globe.

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