20 Challenges For The Next Generation Of Business Leaders

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20 Challenges For The Next Generation Of Business Leaders

Each generation of business leaders faces a unique set of challenges. In the last few years alone, leaders have navigated supply chain shortages, changing workforce priorities and the growing widespread adoption of AI technologies across industries. While it’s not possible to know what the future has in store, leaders can take proactive steps to handle any challenge that comes their way.

Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members each share one challenge they believe the next generation of business leaders will face, as well as what those leaders can do to overcome those obstacles.

1. Rapid Technological Advancements And Digital Transformation

The next generation of business leaders will face the challenge of navigating rapid technological advancements and digital transformation. To overcome this, they should focus on adaptability and fostering a culture of innovation. Emphasizing digital literacy, investing in cutting-edge technologies and building agile teams will be crucial for staying competitive and resilient. – Ryan Austin, Cognota

2. The Advent Of Tech Replacing People

The next generation of business leaders will face the advent of people-replacing technologies, as natural language processing and other AI-based tools will drive layoffs, especially for customer-facing positions in call centers. Leaders will have to determine when human interaction is best for business versus when technology can deliver a better, more timely customer experience at a lower cost. – Cindy Roark, Sage Dental

3. Future-Proofing Talent Pipelines

Technology is rapidly evolving and organizations must future-proof their talent pipelines to stay relevant and adaptable amid change. Leaders will need to invest in employees’ professional development, promote a culture of learning and assess how they can use investments and mentorship to bolster the next generation so they come equipped with these skills and attitudes from the get-go. – Chris Moore, FIRST

4. The Prioritization Of Work-Life Balance

The next generation of business leaders will face the challenge of managing a post-Covid workforce that prioritizes work-life balance. To overcome this, they must adopt an employee-centric approach. Investing in the right tools and technologies to support remote and hybrid work will be crucial, as well as prioritizing employee development and engagement in this new context. – Raghunandan Gurumurthy, Crossover Solutions

5. Maintaining Employee Motivation And Engagement

One challenge the next generation of leaders will face is maintaining high employee motivation and engagement. To overcome this, leaders should focus on purpose-driven work, offer flexibility, promote continuous learning, utilize technology for communication and collaboration and lead with authenticity and empathy. These practices help create a supportive and motivating work environment that retains talent and drives organizational success. – Ajamu Kambon, Deep Root Records


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6. Retaining Talent

The next generation of business leaders faces a challenging employee environment. With people wanting to work less, make more and have more options for jobs, leaders must consider how they will retain talent and foster an environment of hardworking, caring and loyal employees. – Spencer Williams, Scale Selling

7. A Rising Youth Mental Health Crisis

Future leaders will face an escalating youth mental health crisis. Our next generation of employees are literally in crisis with rates of youth depression almost doubling in the last decade and nearly one out of every three teenagers in the U.S. reporting poor mental health. Suicide ranks as the third-leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds in the United States. The resulting cost to businesses is undeniable. – Gyre Renwick, Modern Health

8. Changing Leadership Models

The future of leadership demands abandoning the outdated “boss” model. The next generation of leaders will thrive only by embracing servant leadership, empowering teams and fostering supportive environments. Trust, transparency and genuine commitment to the well-being of the organization and its people will be crucial. Leaders who inspire through service, not ego, will be the true champions. – Sabeer Nelliparamban, Tyler Petroleum Inc.

9. A Lack Of Long-Term Commitment

One challenge the next generation of business leaders will face is building a team due to a lack of long-term commitment from potential employees. Younger generations often prefer living in the moment, which can lead to frequent hiring and training for the same positions. To overcome this, leaders should develop retention plans that offer remote or hybrid work environment options to align with the desires of the modern workforce. – Raquel Gomes, Stafi

10. Navigating In-Person And Remote Operations

Balancing the value of in-person and remote operations is still new, and as business leaders, we haven’t yet found balance and sustainability globally. I encourage future leaders to provide a platform for courageous discussion to determine how to best deliver employee education, internal and external communications, customer interactions and deep work execution. – Jeff Surges, RLDatix

11. Team Dynamics

One of the biggest challenges these leaders will encounter relates to navigating their own team dynamics. The workforce continues to grow more generationally diverse, and professionals will need to be able to lead employees of all age brackets. To do this effectively, they need to ask questions and build relationships with each member of their team to know how to best set them up for success. – Kent Ingle, Southeastern University

12. Managing A Dispersed Workforce

A major challenge for future business leaders will be managing the complexities of a globalized workforce and customer base amidst rapid international expansion and digital transformation. Effective leadership will require embracing cultural sensitivity, inclusion and community engagement, as well as navigating diverse regulatory landscapes and ensuring technological flexibility to adapt to varying market needs. – Glenn Gonsalves, RedSwitches

13. Fast-Changing Technologies

One of the biggest challenges is keeping up with fast-changing technologies. To overcome this, leaders should focus on learning new skills and staying flexible. Encouraging innovation and staying updated on new trends will help the entire team succeed. – Medhat Zaki, Zaki International GmbH

14. Adapting To AI-Driven Search And Assistive Platforms

One major challenge for future business leaders will be adapting to AI-driven search and assistive platforms like ChatGPT, Bing Copilot and Google Gemini, which shift the focus of SEO away from traditional websites. To thrive, businesses must optimize their brand’s digital presence and content for AI algorithms to ensure visibility and retain engagement on these platforms. – Jason Barnard, Kalicube

15. Ethical AI Use

The integration of AI and ethical decision making could be a challenge. Leaders must ensure that AI systems are transparent, accountable and aligned with ethical standards to maintain trust and compliance with evolving regulations. Leaders should invest in ethical AI frameworks and training, fostering a culture where technology enhances decision making without compromising values. – Mike Vietri, AmeriLife

16. AI Integration With The Human Touch

The next generation of leaders will grapple with integrating AI without losing the human touch that underpins client trust. To thrive, they must blend tech-savvy solutions with a deep commitment to ethical standards and personalized service, ensuring technology acts as an enhancer rather than a replacement for the nuanced and human aspects of our industry. – Angela Palo, Pinnacle Financial Services (PFS)

17. Cybersecurity

One big challenge for the next generation of business leaders is definitely cybersecurity, especially with the rise of IoT and interconnected devices. To overcome this, they’ll need to proactively make cybersecurity a top priority. Leaders should focus on educating their teams on best practices, running regular security audits and staying on top of the latest threats. – Ran Ronen, Equally AI

18. Sustainability

All future generations will face challenges associated with sustainability. Leaders need to be prepared for supply chain and technology disruptions, sourcing difficulties, workforces that are up against extreme weather and interruptions in accessibility. Modeling can help minimize some disruption, and staying aware can help them prepare. Be ready to navigate the unexpected. – Michael Ghesser, Cleanlogic

19. Leading Through Uncertainty

Leading through uncertainty should become a skill of the future. The aggressive, strong-opinionated leaders will no longer dominate the boardrooms. Today’s uncertainty demands resilience, thoughtful decision making and an appetite for risk and empathy at the same time. It is both a mindset and skill set shift for leaders to thrive while (figuratively) driving a Formula One car. – Ioana Dragomir, AnaApp

20. Change

The only constant is change, so leaders shouldn’t spend too much time trying to predict the future. Instead, continue to focus on nurturing staff. The tools of the future may be different, such as AI, but people won’t be. Skill development, job security, adequate pay—these needs will always remain. If you put people first, they will apply expertise to help a business thrive in a changed landscape. – Rytis Lauris, Omnisend

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