2024 Meridian Summit: Resilience Redefined: Corporate Strategies for an Unpredictable World 

As political tensions, trade disruptions, and regulatory changes become more unpredictable, corporations find themselves navigating an increasingly complex global environment. Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture, joined Goli Sheikholeslami, CEO of POLITICO Media Group, to discuss how companies can redefine resilience and leverage it as a strategic asset. As the private sector navigates geopolitical changes, resilience has evolved from merely withstanding shocks to embracing a broader perspective that transforms uncertainty into opportunity, relying on technology, emerging talent, and global operations as its key pillars.  

Top Takeaways

As global dynamics shift—reshaping economies, intensifying geopolitical competition, and introducing new security challenges—companies now navigate a complex environment where resilience extends beyond traditional crisis response and risk management. This evolving landscape compels organizations to broaden their understanding of resilience beyond conventional frameworks. For Accenture, this means balancing investment in technology with building a skilled workforce. Modern resilience requires businesses to rethink how they engage with global supply chains, emphasizing how critical it has become for the private sector to anticipate changes in political alliances and potential conflicts not only to mitigate risks, but to calculate emerging opportunities. This approach requires companies to examine their operations closely, considering how their supply chains might be affected by sudden disruptions, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. Accenture’s strategy focuses on technological robustness, global operations, and talent development to drive growth and stability, with measurable outcomes showing that companies excelling in these areas can benefit from above-average growth. For instance, using resilience scoring system, Accenture found that higher scores on these factors predicted growth with 67 percent accuracy over one year and over 80 percent accuracy across three years, with resilient companies showing an average growth rate around 6 percent higher than their peers.  

This approach to resilience underscores a fundamental shift towards balance, where investment in cutting-edge technology must be complemented by the development of a skilled and adaptable workforce. Accenture’s strategy includes substantial investments in employee training, equipping staff to effectively navigate technological changes, including the rapid integration of AI and data analytics. "We all have an interest in AI being used for good and responsibly, and that means we have to trust and come together to learn together," Sweet remarked, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and flexibility amidst and unpredictable world. Businesses must see themselves as "talent creators," fostering a culture of continuous learning that extends beyond traditional educational structures. As Sweet noted, “In a world where the skills are constantly changing, we have to invest now to develop the skills of the future,” pointing to the value of proactive talent development. This adaptability is crucial for companies to transform challenges into opportunities and for countries to maintain competitive advantages, as demonstrated by India’s early efforts to integrate AI into education.  

Using the U.S. as a case study, Sweet praised the Biden administration’s recent executive order on AI, which was formulated after extensive dialogue with both technology companies and AI users. "I work with every major technology company in the world, and I cannot think of one of them that doesn’t believe there is some regulation necessary for this powerful technology," she remarked. Sweet sees this kind of public-private partnership as a model for responsible AI governance, not just in the U.S., but globally. As different regions, such as the European Union, approach AI regulation from slightly different perspectives, the constant remains the need for transparent cooperation to align these efforts. 

Next Steps 

Building a strong foundation of technical skills in the workforce across sectors is more critical than ever for businesses to remain resilient in an unpredictable world. Prioritizing continuous education and training will enable companies to create diverse and robust talent pipelines, equipping their workforce with the readiness to adapt to shifting demands and navigate both disruptions and emerging opportunities. Governments and companies must collaborate to create robust AI regulatory frameworks that promote innovation while ensuring safety and accountability. Preparing small and medium sized enterprises to leverage AI is essential but will be achievable only through effective public-private partnerships. By 2025, Sweet envisions businesses and governments working together to make technology a force for good, from breakthroughs in medical research to significant gains in productivity. For businesses, this means proactively engaging with regulators to ensure that the policies being developed are informed by a deep understanding of the technology. For governments, it means investing in the education and training of regulators so they are equipped to manage the challenges and opportunities AI presents. 

As AI continues to evolve, the imperative for both business leaders and policymakers is clear: work together, learn quickly, and regulate wisely.