Russell Reynolds Associates Study Finds 74% of Singapore Leaders Cite Geopolitical Uncertainty as Top Concern, Surpassing Economic Growth and Trade Conflicts for the First Time

• 68% express excitement about the revenue-generating potential of Gen AI, but only 22% incorporate AI into daily workflows while 40% cite internal expertise shortages as their primary adoption barrier

• 63% of Singapore leaders rank strategic thinking as the top leadership skill, surpassing innovation (42%), decision-making (40%), and technological expertise (4%)

• Singaporean leaders remain loyal to their industries amid uncertainty, with 83% open to new roles within their sector but only 28% willing to switch industries, even as 67% consider leaving their current employers

15 January 2026, Singapore - The H2 2025 Global Leadership Monitor from Russell Reynolds Associates revealed that Singapore business leaders are most concerned about geopolitical uncertainty. This marks a significant shift in which geopolitics has overtaken economic growth as their primary concern for the first time.

56% of Singapore leaders report being prepared to address technological change, and 63% say they are ready for increased regulation, while only 38% feel confident managing geopolitical uncertainty.

Singapore Leaders Rank Geopolitics Uncertainty as Top Priority

74% of Singaporean leaders now rank geopolitical uncertainty as Singapore's number one threat — up from fourth place in H2 2024. Singapore business leaders also cite uncertain economic growth (53%) and trade conflicts (50%) among their top three concerns.

Trade conflicts have seen a particularly sharp rise, jumping from 8th place, where it remained a lower priority throughout 2021-2024 to 3rd place in H2 2025. This ranking differs with the rest of Asia Pacific, where trade conflicts rank 9th, and 11th globally, highlighting Singapore’s distinctive exposure to growing regional tensions.

This shift represents a pivot away from previously dominant concerns such as availability of key talent and skills, and changes in consumer behaviour, both of which have fallen significantly down Singapore leaders’ priority lists, reflecting leaders' heightened focus on geopolitical and economic risks.

"Geopolitical volatility is now a core business risk for Singapore companies, disrupting supply chains, investments and strategy planning," said Euan Kenworthy, Country Lead, Singapore, Russell Reynolds Associates. "This affects both MNCs, regionally headquartered companies and family enterprises. For regionally headquartered companies and family enterprises, the answer lies in transformation and executive teams staying agile. It is also imperative that Boards ensure they have the right diversity of global expertise to help them navigate these uncertainties."

AI Reshapes Talent Pipelines But Readiness Lags

In Singapore, 71% of leaders believe increased use of technology in hiring and mobility processes,  particularly AI and automation, will have the most significant impact on leadership talent availability over the next 12 months.

Three in four now view Gen AI as a critical future skill and 68% express excitement about its revenue-generating potential. However, only one in five incorporate AI into daily workflows while 40% cite internal expertise shortages as their primary adoption barrier.

Strategic thinking dominates leadership priorities

63% of Singapore leaders identify strategic thinking as the most critical leadership capability, exceeding the global average of 58% and significantly surpassing innovation and creativity (42%) and decision-making (40%).

Technical capabilities rank substantially lower in Singapore: Only 4% prioritise technological literacy, indicating a pronounced regional emphasis on vision, adaptability, and foresight amid complex geopolitical and economic challenges.

Singapore leaders’ industry-loyal despite high mobility

Singapore executives show 83% are open to career moves within their current industry but remain markedly conservative about cross-sector transitions, with only 28% willing to move beyond their sector versus 53% of global leaders.

This industry loyalty persis0ts even as 67% express readiness to leave their curren2t employer, reflecting active career strategies amid economic and geopolitical volatility.

About the Global Leadership Monitor

The Global Leadership Monitor is Russell Reynolds Associates’ bi-annual online survey of more than 2,500 executives and non-executives worldwide. Conducted in September and October 2025, it tracks how external trends affect organisational health and assesses leaders’ preparedness to address emerging challenges.

Contact

Joann Chin 
Russell Reynolds Associates 
+65 6496 0614 
joann.chin@russellreynolds.com