In an Era of Uncertainty, Why CEOs Are Talking Growth Again — 'From Defense to Redesign'

Global business leaders'' attention is returning to "growth." Deloitte-Fortune 2026 Global CEO Survey: CEO optimism about the economy nearly doubled from previous year (28% vs 14% optimistic); pessimism significantly decreased (58% to 32%). This signals companies moving from defensive management to strategic redesign — even with geopolitical conflicts, tariffs, and cyber threats persisting. Regional outlook: CEOs cautious about US economy; Europe expected to enter gradual recovery; Asia-APEC projected to maintain relatively solid growth; Korean CEOs showed confidence in growth prospects above global average — attributable to export/supply chain growth experience and significant AI/digital transformation productivity improvement potential. Risk bifurcation between short and long-term: immediate threats — cyberattacks (most critical), inflation, geopolitical instability, tariffs; medium-long term risks — sustainability requirements and regulatory strengthening, global supply chain disruption potential, financial/market instability. CEO investment strategies: 38% maintaining/repositioning selective investment despite uncertainty; 50% focusing on internal cost reduction and operational efficiency rather than price increases; 45% simultaneously pursuing supply chain expansion, diversification, and localization. AI as growth driver: AI and digital transformation emerging as the primary growth investment category; companies treating AI as "test and learn" vs. companies achieving demonstrated productivity improvements beginning to diverge significantly. Korea-specific insight: Korean CEOs'' above-average optimism reflects a genuine structural advantage — Korea''s position in the global AI supply chain (semiconductors, memory, connectivity) means that AI infrastructure investment globally creates direct export demand for Korean industrial output, providing an external demand tailwind that supplements domestic growth.