Strengthening the Leaders Who Power Transformation

Midlevel leaders are at the heart of every major shift in a business. They drive strategy forward, keep teams aligned, and make change happen. But the role has grown more complex—and most leaders haven’t been given the tools to keep up.

To meet the demands of constant change, these leaders need to think strategically, move quickly, and connect the dots across people, priorities, and tech.

Explore the full infographic to see how these leaders are stepping up to lead transformation.

Leveling Up Your Midlevel Leaders

Midlevel leaders are under more pressure than ever. They’re expected to deliver today and drive transformation for tomorrow. But many feel stuck in the middle—pulled between big goals from above and the needs of their teams below.

We surveyed over 600 global leaders to understand what’s really going on. The data shows a clear story: midlevel leaders are ready to step up, but they need the right support to do it.

Explore the full infographic to see what midlevel leaders are facing—and how to help them thrive.

Leading Through Transformation: Rethinking the Role of Midlevel Leaders

As business imperatives evolve, midlevel leaders are playing an increasingly vital role in leading and executing transformation efforts.

Findings from Harvard Business Impact’s global study of more than 600 leaders highlight this shift:

• 96% of midlevel leaders say they’ve taken on increased responsibility to lead or participate in more transformation initiatives over the past year.
• 65% of midlevel leaders say they provided strategic input or supported the implementation of transformation efforts.

Explore the full infographic for additional insights.

Under Pressure: Why Burnout Among Midlevel Leaders May Be a Strategic Risk

Many midlevel leaders are struggling with persistent burnout, limited support and recognition, and a widening gap between them and senior leadership.

When burnout and stress go unaddressed, midlevel leaders may become less engaged and less confident in their roles—undermining their ability to retain talent and drive results.

Explore the full infographic for deeper analysis and practical implications.

The Future Is Fluent: Why AI Demands a New Kind of Leader

Leadership roles are shifting to align more closely with the demands of AI initiatives.
Organizations that foster an AI-ready culture through leadership will see faster, more sustainable transformation.

Explore the full infographic to uncover more insights.

3 Strategies to Meet the Moment: Building the Collective Intelligence of Humans and Machines

AI-driven change is making learning more vital than ever. Predicting what will need to be learned and by whom is urgent.

In our 2025 Global Leadership Development Study, responses from 1,159 learning professionals and functional heads across 14 countries revealed three key strategies learning and development is using to meet the moment.

View the full infographic to learn the strategies for building the collective intelligence of humans and machines.

3 L&D Priorities for Building the Collective Intelligence of Humans and Machines

In our 2025 Global Leadership Development Study, responses from 1,159 learning professionals and functional heads across 14 countries revealed three critical objectives guiding learning and development strategy this year.

Organizations must build the collective intelligence of humans and machines by acting on these three imperatives to unlock the opportunity to lead, transform, and thrive in an AI-driven world.

Preparing Leaders for What’s Next: Thriving in a World of AI, Disruption, and Continuous Change

Market fluctuations, digital disruption, and a new generation of workers are demanding more of leaders.

Organizations must design learning experiences that are fast, tailored, and scalable in order to meet the demands of today’s leaders.

4 Keys to AI-First Leadership: The New Imperative for Digital Transformation

AI has become a defining force in reshaping industries and determining competitive advantage. To support AI-first strategies, leaders must progress through a deliberate journey: building foundational AI knowledge, cultivating an AI-first mindset, and honing AI-related skills, before confidently leading with AI.

4 Key Objectives for Leadership Development that Support Transformation

Organizational and industry-wide transformation initiatives pose difficulties for Learning and Development in readying leaders to ensure the success of these changes. Our 2024 global survey, which included 1,134 L&D and HR professionals and functional heads across 15 countries, pinpointed four main goals in leadership development that aid in facilitating transformation.

To find out more, download the infographic.

The Purpose Factor: Why Your Talent Strategy Depends on It

A global survey revealed that 52% of jobseekers would not accept a job offer if they did not know or agree with a company’s values or purpose, and 90% of respondents from another poll said that work should bring a sense of meaning to their life.

Explore the infographic to uncover more insights.

The Vicious Cycle Preventing Your People from Adapting to Change

In Harvard Business Publishing’s survey of more than 3,400 full-time employees across 11 countries, 45% reported feeling stressed or burned out 1x a week or more.

Pressure to change faster, especially without sufficient support, creates more stress, uncertainty, and negative emotions, further increasing people’s resistance and the risk of failure.

By increasing people’s confidence, sense of well-being, and resilience to stress, human-centered leadership has the potential to help people adapt more easily.