Only 15% of Organizations View Themselves as Change Agents, Study Finds

Market factors such as technological advances, geopolitical shifts and more are accelerating the need for companies to prepare for corporate upheaval

MENLO PARK, Calif., March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Organizations globally are operating in an environment that is changing rapidly, and those that view themselves as disruptors operate differently compared to organizations that view themselves at risk of being disrupted.

That is among the major findings of the second annual Global Board Governance Survey conducted by Protiviti, BoardProspects and Broadridge Financial Solutions.

Other key survey findings include:

• 75% of companies believe business models will be changing within three years.
   
• A strong majority of companies do not see themselves as change agents — Just 15% put themselves in the disruptive leader category. Some (34%) believe they are fairly disruptive and are making progress at becoming more disruptive (disruptive aspirants). Some (25%) believe they are a disruptor but also are at risk of being disrupted. Others (16%) believe they are at risk of being disrupted but can quickly pivot and adapt (agile followers). Still others (7%) think they are at risk of being disrupted and slow to evaluate how to respond and react, and 3% are not sure where their companies fall on this continuum.
  
  
• Disruptors see the world differently and are better prepared to embrace change — 77% of disruptive leaders are confident or highly confident in their ability to recognize, adapt and respond timely to disruptions, versus 28% of organizations that are slow to respond to disruption.
  
  
• How companies view generative AI offers a litmus test of their propensity to disrupt — 72% of disruptive leaders view generative AI as providing a significant or moderate opportunity to be a disruptor, while more than 40% of disrupted organizations view the technology as a risk to disrupt them.

"We have experienced more change in this decade than we have since the turn of the century with more on the horizon," said Joe Tarantino, president and CEO of Protiviti. "The key to managing the uncertainty of a disruptive global marketplace is being proactive in embracing change and seizing opportunities. It is all about having a mindset of anticipating, preparing, adapting and acting decisively."

"The findings of this year's Global Board Governance Survey reveal a stark reality: organizations that position themselves as disruptive leaders are significantly better equipped to harness emerging technologies and navigate change," said Mark Rogers, founder & CEO, BoardProspects. "This highlights the critical importance of boards fostering an innovative culture that embraces disruption rather than merely responding to it."

"These important findings affirm that today's most successful leaders are embracing digital disruption to ensure they deliver enduring value for their shareholders, customers and associates," said Doug DeSchutter, co-president, Investor Communications Solutions, Broadridge Financial Solutions.

Resources Available

The Global Board Governance Survey research report, "Disruptors See the World Differently," from Protiviti, Broadridge and BoardProspects, is available for complimentary download here. Protiviti's global webinar will be held on March 19, 2025, with a one-hour panel discussion on the survey's findings. Join us to learn more about the survey results and their implications. Attendance is free with registration here.

Survey Approach

Protiviti, Broadridge and BoardProspects conducted the online Global Board Governance Survey in the fourth quarter of 2024. The companies polled more than 1,800 (n=1,831) board members, CEOs and other C-suite executives. The responses of directors who serve on multiple boards reflect the largest company for which the director serves on the board.

About Protiviti

Protiviti (www.protiviti.com) is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Protiviti and its independent and locally owned member firms provide clients with consulting and managed solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, digital, legal, HR, risk and internal audit through a network of more than 90 offices in over 25 countries.

Named to the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For^® list for the 10th consecutive year, Protiviti has served more than 80 percent of Fortune 100 and nearly 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The firm also works with government agencies and smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI).

About BoardProspects

BoardProspects is the premier board recruitment solution for public and private companies. 

Founded in 2010, the innovative platform offers for-profit corporations of all sizes a cost-effective way to identify, assess, and recruit board members from a prestigious community of highly-regarded and credentialed board members, c-suite executives, and thought leaders. BoardProspects leverages technology to improve the board recruitment process for publicly traded and private corporations and provides the tools and features necessary to create a diverse and talented board succession pipeline.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR) is a global technology leader with the trusted expertise and transformative technology to help clients and the financial services industry operate, innovate, and grow. We power investing, governance, and communications for our clients – driving operational resiliency, elevating business performance, and transforming investor experiences. 

Our technology and operations platforms process and generate over 7 billion communications per year and underpin the daily trading of more than $10 trillion of securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work^®, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500^® Index, employing over 14,000 associates in 21 countries.

For more information about us, please visit www.broadridge.com.

SOURCE Protiviti Inc.