The 10 Biggest Challenges Companies Face Right Now

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May 21, 2026

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Jenna Ross

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Akhila Ayyalasomayajula
Abha Patil

The 10 Biggest Challenges Companies Face Right Now

Companies are facing pressure from every direction. Customer expectations are changing, competition is intensifying, and technologies like AI are forcing companies to rethink how their businesses operate. On average, leaders now face more than three major strategic challenges at the same time.

This graphic, created in partnership with Leadership Contract Inc., highlights the top 10 challenges companies face today. It’s a preview of the brand-new executive guide from Leadership Contract Inc. and Visual Capitalist, Leaders Under Pressure: A Visual Guide for Leading Strategic Shifts.

Ranking the Top Challenges

Based on a survey of 556 senior executives and C-suite leaders based in the U.S., changing customer expectations is the top challenge. Increasingly, customers expect more personalized experiences, faster service, and around-the-clock availability.

Strategic Challenge	% of Respondents
Changing Customer Expectations	33%
Transforming the Organization’s Business Model	32%
Managing CEO Transition	31%
Competition From New Entrants	29%
Shifting to a Hybrid World of Work	28%
Driving Accelerated Growth	25%
International Expansion	22%
Talent Acquisition, Retention, and Development Challenges	21%
Market/Industry Disruption	19%
Post-Merger and Acquisition Integration	18%

Source: Molinaro, Vince (2024). Community of Leaders – What It Takes to Drive Strategy Culture & Change. PageTwo. Based on a survey of 556 U.S. senior executives and C-suite leaders.

Enjoying this content? Dive into more insights in the Leaders Under Pressure guide:

Beyond changing customer expectations, many companies are also being forced to rethink how they operate. Transforming the business model ranked as the second-biggest challenge, driven by AI and digital transformation.

At the same time, managing CEO transitions ranked third. As the population ages and senior executives prepare for retirement, more companies are anticipating leadership changes. Maintaining strategic clarity during these transitions is critical.

Together, these findings show that today’s business challenges are increasingly overlapping.

Leaders are not dealing with one issue at a time—they are navigating disruption, competition, workforce change, and leadership transitions simultaneously.

Why Leadership Accountability Matters

Building a strong leadership culture is critical to navigating today’s challenges, yet 34% of leaders say they are overwhelmed and incapable of leading change.

That gap between pressure and preparedness is becoming a major business risk. Leadership Contract Inc.’s research identified 30 leadership behaviors that help organizations strengthen accountability across individuals, teams, and the broader business.

The research also found that organizations with stronger leadership accountability are more successful at navigating strategic shifts and driving exceptional performance.

Download the free Leaders Under Pressure guide to learn how organizations can build stronger leadership accountability during times of change.

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The 10 Biggest Challenges Companies Face Right Now