
A new global report by the ERM Initiative and AICPA & CIMA surveyed 1,735 executives across eight regions and industries, revealing stark gaps in AI talent, technology, and governance readiness. While 73% of early‑adopter firms report strategic advantage from AI, only about a quarter of all respondents claim sufficient AI‑skilled talent or regulatory preparedness. Risk perception is rising, with 46% labeling AI a top‑10 risk, climbing to 69% among AI‑mature organizations. Geographic and sector differences show faster adoption in emerging markets and industries such as mining and transportation.

The piece links Olympic leadership lessons to enterprise risk management, citing two McKinsey studies on gold‑medalist Alistair Brownlee and CEOs as elite athletes. It distills five principles—persistence amid pushback, strategic time‑blocking, focusing on high‑impact risks, incremental innovation, and adaptability—for chief...