Thriving in a Decade of Change: Five Ways Leaders Can Win the Future
Across the board, in any industry you find yourself in, if you’re a CEO or a managing partner, you don’t need me to tell you how fast things are changing. Over the past five years, there have been a whirlwind of changes. Going back 10 years? I can’t even think about it.
So I asked myself, what trends will have a significant impact on business in the next 5 to 10 years? No one has a crystal ball, but there are current trends that may foretell what to expect in the future.
One thing is certain: Expect the unexpected.
From AI and automation to sustainability reporting, cloud platforms, shifting business models, and talent shortages, leaders today are navigating more disruption in five years than many leaders faced in decades past.
The good news? With disruption comes opportunity. Okay, yes, I admit that I am an optimist.
The key is to lead with clarity, focus, and adaptability.
What follows are three significant areas of anticipated changes and five practical ways leaders can thrive in the decade ahead — suggestions you can begin to apply right away.
The Sea Changes Ahead
Data Integration and Strategic Advisory Services
Businesses will rely on integrated data platforms, advanced analytics, and AI to provide actionable, real-time insights for decision-making.
This shift will redefine accountants and business professionals as strategic advisors, supporting business agility and proactive planning instead of historical, transactional operations.
Business Model Evolution and Value-Based Pricing
The traditional accounting firm model, including fixed-fee pricing, will disappear in favor of value-based models aligned with ongoing service, advisory, and performance outcomes.
Firms will specialize in niche areas, consolidate, and increasingly provide broader business consulting services.
Talent, Upskilling, and Workforce Changes
The future workforce will be characterized by continuous upskilling, lifelong learning, and flexible employment structures.
The demand for accountants and business professionals with technical, data, and advisory skills will surge, and collaboration with AI will require ongoing development of ethical, strategic, and emotional intelligence.
The Solutions
1. Shift From Transactions to Strategy
Technology is already doing much of the repetitive, rules-based work. That means your value — and your team’s value — lies in insight and guidance.
Real-time data, not historical information, will drive businesses in the future. Yesterday's numbers are yesterday's news and already outdated.
👉 Ask yourself: Am I spending my time operating in the weeds, or advising at the strategic level?
👉 Quick Action: Review your calendar for the next month. Identify one recurring task you can delegate or automate, and use that freed-up time for strategic thinking or meeting with a key client.
2. Build Future-Ready Teams
Talent shortages are real, and they won’t resolve on their own. The leaders who win will create cultures where people feel valued, supported, and invested in.
Invest in your most important assets - your people.
👉 Ask yourself: Would I want my son, daughter, or best friend to work here?
👉 Quick action: At your next team meeting, recognize three individuals for their specific contributions. Recognition costs nothing, but it has a lasting impact on retention and morale.
3. Lead as a Centered CEO™
The greatest risk I see isn’t technology — it’s burnout. Overloaded leaders struggle to think clearly or inspire others.
👉 Ask yourself: Am I running my day, or is my day running me?
👉 Quick action: Block out 15 minutes each morning — before the emails and meetings — to reflect on your top three priorities. This simple discipline keeps you focused on what matters most.
Note: This is a core feature of my work with CEO’s and up-and-coming leaders.
4. Embrace Sustainability and ESG Leadership
Sustainability reporting is moving from “optional” to “expected.” But this isn’t just about compliance — it’s about positioning your business as a trusted, responsible leader.
👉 Ask yourself: What story do our current practices tell about our values and impact?
👉 Quick action: Identify one measurable sustainability goal — whether reducing paper use, improving diversity in hiring, or engaging in community service — and share it openly with your team. Transparency builds trust.
5. Strengthen Agility and Resilience
Uncertainty is here to stay. Markets shift, regulations change, and new risks emerge overnight. Leaders who prepare their organizations to adapt will stay ahead.
👉 Ask yourself: How quickly could my team adjust if our biggest assumption changed tomorrow?
👉 Quick action: Run a short scenario-planning session with your leadership team. Pick one “what if” — a regulatory change, new competitor, or technology disruption — and discuss how you’d respond.
Looking Ahead
The next decade will reward leaders who make thoughtful adjustments today. You don’t need to overhaul your organization overnight. Start small. Choose one area — strategy, people, balance, sustainability, or resilience — and take a meaningful step this month.
A Call to Reflection
As you consider the future of your leadership, take 10 minutes this week to reflect on these three questions:
Where am I most reactive, and how can I move toward being more proactive?
What is one step I can take right now to strengthen my team’s culture and resilience?
Am I leading from clarity and purpose, or am I letting urgency set my agenda?
Your answers won’t just shape your next week — they’ll shape your next decade.
Until Next Time!
