This study represents the 29th edition of the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBM IBV) C-suite Study series. For the 2024 CEO Study, IBM IBV, in cooperation with Oxford Economics, conducted two rounds of survey based interviews with more than 2,500 CEOs from 30+ countries and 26 industries. Conducted from December 2023 through April 2024, these conversations focused on business priorities, leadership, technology, talent, partnering, regulation, industry disruption, and enterprise transformation. Additional insights were drawn from ongoing IBM IBV research related to evolving technologies, including generative AI and hybrid cloud, and various industries. Findings were also derived from numerous client interactions, including more than two dozen deep-dive interviews with CEOs conducted from July 2023 through April 2024.

1. Introduction
2. The CEO outlook
3. The six hard truths
4. Your team isn’t as strong as you think
5. The customer isn’t always right
6. Sentimentality is a weakness when expertise is in short supply
7. Sparring partners make the best leaders
8. People hate progress
9. Tech short-cuts are a dead end
10. Conclusion When you’re on a burning platform
11. Research and methodology