Foreword The art of sailing is not in controlling the wind but in skilfully adjusting the sails to navigate through the storm. In a world shaped by accelerating change, resilience has emerged as the key capability essential for both survival and success. Today’s leaders are increasingly seeing that resilience is not just about enduring crises, but thriving in the face of them. Since its inception in 2022, the Resilience Consortium has acted as a catalyst for public- and private-sector efforts to strengthen resilience. As global leaders navigate a landscape of compounding risks (from climate instability and geopolitical conflicts to supply chain fragility and technological disruptions), the Consortium’s mission grows only more significant. Through coordinated actions, the Consortium has sought to boost resilience-building across industries, sectors and regions. This paper is a continuation of this goal. Drawing insights from a survey of over 250 private-sector leaders, it aims to assess where companies currently stand in their resilience journeys. It additionally evaluates companies’ preparedness and action in the face of mounting challenges. While an increasing number of companies are acknowledging the need for resilience in their core strategies, many still struggle to translate that awareness into tangible capabilities. Strikingly, 84% of companies report being underprepared for current trends and uncertainties. A resilient approach relies on both defensive and offensive strategies. Yet, our findings reveal a predominant focus on short-term actions, reflecting a tendency towards defensive measures over proactive ones. Building on survey insights, this paper explores the foundations of resilient leadership and underscores the importance of public-private collaboration in advancing resilience. The key focus areas identified include: improving access to capital, cultivating macroeconomic stability, driving sustainable investments and green growth, and preparing the workforce for technological advancements. We express our gratitude to the Consortium members and Forum initiative leaders for their invaluable contributions. Their insights have been instrumental in shaping this paper, and we hope it serves as a guide and inspiration for leaders intending to advance their resilience strategies.Børge Brende President and CEO, World Economic ForumBob Sternfels Global Managing Partner, McKinsey & Company Resilience Pulse Check: Harnessing Collaboration to Navigate a Volatile WorldJanuary 2025 Resilience Pulse Check: Harnessing Collaboration to Navigate a Volatile World 3

Resilience Pulse Check 2025