S04E03 - Simon Weaver

Lisa Heneghan, Global Chief Digital Officer, KPMG International, speaks with Futurist and Innovation expert Angela Oguntala about how leaders can navigate uncertainty in a world increasingly shaped by geopolitics, AI, and economic disruption.   The conversation challenges the notion that leaders should focus on predicting the future. Instead, Angela emphasizes the importance of reorientation—questioning long‑held assumptions, developing a clearer understanding of the present, and building the capabilities needed to make sound decisions amid ongoing uncertainty.

2026 look set to be another year of deepening global economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Economic populism, trade protectionism, shifting demographics and even alarms about deglobalization are driving decision making and threatening long-term economic stability. In such a confusing and challenging environment, what can CEOs do today to ensure sustainable long-term growth? Leading economist and business author, Linda Yueh, shares her views and insights with KPMG’s Global Head of Geopolitics, Stefano Moritsch, in the latest edition of KPMG’s must-listen podcast series, Global Perspectives.

2026's World Economic Forum gathering in Davos was the biggest in the event’s history, with more CEOs and more political leaders than ever before. But, with economic headwinds and geopolitical disruption threatening global cohesion and collaboration, could deglobalization damage the current consensus-driven approach to international business? KPMG’s Global Head of Clients & Markets, Regina Mayor, catches up with Gillian Tett – the world-renowned journalist and business commentator – to hear her views on the future for Davos and what CEOs need to be thinking and doing today to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead.

KPMG in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, will be launching a leading piece of research on Trust in Artificial Intelligence, a global study measuring the general population’s experience, use and attitudes towards AI.   KPMG International’s Global Head of Corporate Affairs Jane Lawrie recently sat down with Nicole Gillespie, Chair in Trust and Professor of Management, University of Melbourne, to share their thoughts on the initial survey findings, and the importance of trust in organizations.   The full survey will be released in the spring 2025 so stay tuned to find out more

This season we are marking 10 years of the KPMG CEO Outlook and talking to business leaders and innovative thinkers across industries, countries and continents to better understand what drives them, how they are navigating challenges, their views on the greatest risks to growth and how they make the difference. Outlook of the CEO looks back at the last decade as well as considering the opportunities and obstacles that lie ahead. In this episode, Jon Holt, Chief Executive and Senior Partner, KPMG UK and Switzerland, interviews Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive of Standard Chartered. With over 35 years of experience in the financial sector Bill has led Standard Chartered through a number of significant transformations in areas including bringing a strong focus to sustainable finance and digital innovation. Together Jon and Bill discuss the economy, geopolitical tensions, AI, hybrid working, sustainability and leadership.

This season we are marking 10 years of the KPMG CEO Outlook and talking to business leaders and innovative thinkers across industries, countries and continents to better understand what drives them, how they are navigating challenges, their views on the greatest risks to growth and how they make the difference. Outlook of the CEO looks back at the last decade as well as considering the opportunities and obstacles that lie ahead. In this episode, Jane Lawrie, KPMG’s Global Head of Corporate Affairs, interviews the global economist and author, Baroness Dambisa Moyo. Baroness Moyo is a world-renowned economist and author of four New York Times Bestselling Books, she has sat on a number of corporate boards and has been named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.   Baroness Moyo talks about the future of the world economy, how AI can solve the world’s most intractable problems and the new growth it brings, and her reasons for optimism.

This season we are marking 10 years of the KPMG CEO Outlook and talking to business leaders and innovative thinkers across industries, countries and continents to better understand what drives them, how they are navigating challenges, their views on the greatest risks to growth and how they make the difference. Outlook of the CEO looks back at the last decade as well as considering the opportunities and obstacles that lie ahead. In this episode, John McCalla-Leacy, KPMG’s Head of Global ESG, interviews the Honorable Mia Mottley, the first female Prime Minister of Barbados, a role she has held since 2018. The Prime Minister speaks about the pressing climate crisis, how AI and tech is changing business, and the importance of engaging people when building a sustainable future.  

Is gender equality still a boardroom issue? For many CEOs, the broad range of crises impacting the world right now risk pushing equality and diversity down their agenda, but getting IDE right remains crucial for the success of a business and for the benefit of wider society. In the latest edition of Global Perspectives from KPMG, Halla Mohieddeen chats to Hollywood star Geena Davis about her own mission to achieve greater representation of women on-screen. Halla is also joined by KPMG’s Global Chief Digital Officer, Lisa Heneghan, who shares her own personal experiences of tackling gender equality in the world of tech and STEM.