In a tumultuous year characterized by geopolitical conflict, economic uncertainty and operational disruptions, C-suites have become increasingly pessimistic about their organization’s outlook. In fact, according to a recent survey by Sentry Insurance, 82% of U.S. executives say they are more concerned about the future of their business than they were at the beginning of 2026.
Geopolitical risks have taken an especially heavy toll on organizations, with 61% of leaders saying that international conflicts have negatively affected them this year from direct impacts like shipping delays to indirect effects like higher gas prices. In addition, 88% are finding it difficult to accurately manage risk because of how quickly geopolitical events are occurring.
This environment is forcing companies to change how they operate. Virtually all executives (98%) are reassessing their approach to long-term planning and risk management, with 70% reducing planning intervals to account for a wider range of risks and 61% building more contingencies into the planning process.
“What has changed since the beginning of the year isn’t simply the list of risks businesses are managing—it is how fast risks evolve and are affecting one another,” said Jeff Cole, assistant vice president of national accounts at Sentry. “Leaders are recognizing that today’s environment demands a more adaptable approach to planning. Organizations that regularly reassess their risks add flexibility to their decision-making, allowing them to prepare for multiple possible outcomes and better position their organizations to respond to ongoing change.”