Views from the boardroom: 2021 pulse survey

It’s clear that 2021 will be about refining—if not fundamentally rethinking—strategic planning and risk management. While perhaps not surprising, this overarching takeaway from polling¹ at our 2021 KPMG Board Leadership Conference is no doubt eye-opening in its implications for board oversight and leadership.

In this period of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty—including the trajectory of the COVID-19 virus and the impact of accelerating megatrends on the post-COVID new normal—navigating the future will require a sharp focus on near-term and longer-term strategy and risk (no small undertaking in normal times). And robust scenario planning will be essential.

Among the key takeaways:

• The shift toward stakeholders, ESG, and long-term value creation is clear and dramatic.

• The focus on climate risk by companies and boards appears to be falling short of investor expectations.

• Cybersecurity, data privacy, and data governance are the top global governance risks for companies in 2021.

• The pressure—and spotlight—on CEO and corporate leadership is intensifying.

• The Biden administration’s policy initiatives will be a key area of focus in the near-term.