In Uncertain Times, Female Leaders Focus on Performance

• 72 percent of female executives are confident about the future of their own companies, but only 29 percent are confident about the global economy
• 54 percent view hard work as the most important factor for success; performance, productivity, and execution continue to gain importance
• 97 percent view women’s health as a corporate responsibility and thus as a key factor for sustainable performance and career development 

Berlin, August 10, 2026
 

Uncertainty about the global economy is growing, yet female executives remain optimistic about the future of their own companies. This is shown by KPMG’s “Global Female Leaders Outlook 2026.” While 72 percent of respondents are confident about their company’s prospects, that confidence drops to 62 percent for their own industry, 41 percent for their own country, and just 29 percent for the global economy. Respondents cite geopolitical instability, macroeconomic uncertainty, and global economic tensions as the biggest challenges.

Female executives are responding to an increasingly challenging environment by placing a stronger focus on the factors they can influence themselves—ranging from competitiveness and productivity to the long-term performance of their organizations.

At the same time, the study shows that professional success is being redefined. Fifty-four percent of female executives cite hard work as one of the most important success factors and now rank this factor higher than leadership skills or strategic thinking.

At the same time, companies are increasingly focusing on boosting productivity. 64 percent of respondents prioritize investments in new technologies and artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, 69 percent expect rising revenues over the next three years, but only 38 percent anticipate hiring more staff. Growth is thus increasingly expected to be driven by performance, efficiency, and technological support.

The positive effects of AI are already particularly evident today in administrative tasks, information processing, and content creation. Technology is thus increasingly becoming the driver of productivity and value creation.

A particular focus of this year’s Global Female Leaders Outlook is the topic of women’s health. The results show that women’s health is increasingly recognized as a factor in sustainable performance and long-term career development. 97 percent of respondents believe that companies should take responsibility for this issue. 70 percent report that it affects their daily work, and 63 percent say it influences their career decisions and professional direction.

At the same time, the study makes it clear that companies see significant potential in this area. Organizations that actively support women’s health create better conditions for retaining talent over the long term, keeping experience within the company, and enabling high performance across different life stages. This is not just about individual measures, but about a modern understanding of work and performance. Flexible work models, supportive leadership, targeted support programs, and an open corporate culture can help better leverage the potential of female employees and strengthen their career paths over the long term.ch deutlich, dass Unternehmen hier erhebliches Potenzial sehen. Organisationen, die Women’s Health aktiv unterstützen, schaffen bessere Voraussetzungen dafür, Talente langfristig zu binden, Erfahrung im Unternehmen zu halten und Leistung über unterschiedliche Lebensphasen hinweg zu ermöglichen. Dabei geht es nicht nur um einzelne Maßnahmen, sondern um ein modernes Verständnis von Arbeit und Leistung. Flexible Arbeitsmodelle, verständnisvolle Führung, gezielte Unterstützungsangebote und eine offene Unternehmenskultur können dazu beitragen, die Potenziale von Mitarbeiterinnen besser zu nutzen und Karrierewege langfristig zu stärken.

Despite all the challenges, one thing remains clear from the perspective of many respondents: Future-proof companies need both technological innovations and framework conditions that promote long-term performance, access to talent, and sustainable growth.