72% of female leaders are confident in their companies’ growth prospects, but only 29% trust the outlook for the global economy

03/ 11/ 2026

Listen to online Stop   These are among the key findings of KPMG’s Global Female Leaders Outlook 2026, based on a survey of 634 female leaders across 46 countries. Confidence among female leaders remains strongest at the organisational level where influence is felt to be most direct, with uncertainty growing about the wider economic outlook. While 72% of respondents report being confident in their own companys growth prospects over the next three years, confidence declines as the horizon broadens. While 62% of female leaders surveyed are confident about their specific industry, only 41% express confidence about their own country, and just 29% about the global economy. In addition to being more confident about their industry, female leaders are considerably higher confidence in their own organisations can be attributed to core business strengths rather than external tailwinds. The most frequently cited drivers behind a positive perspective of respondents’ own businesses are the strength of their company’s competitive positioning (38%), the clarity and credibility of its strategic direction (35%), organisational agility and adaptability (33%), and financial resilience (33%). While confidence in individual company growth remains strong, plans for expansion appear more cautious. 69% of respondents expected earnings growth over the next three years, but only 38% anticipate a similar growth in headcount. “One of the most interesting findings of this year’s study is not a loss of confidence, but a realignment of it. Female leaders remain confident where influence feels most direct: within their own organisations. Today, confidence is increasingly anchored in organizational strength, strategic clarity, adaptability and technology adoption. This helps explain why confidence in company growth prospects remains strong, even as views on the global economy have become more cautious,” - Olena Makarenko - Partner, Risk Consulting and Sustainability, Head of Impact Committee, KPMG Insight Academy Leader, KPMG in Ukraine. Technology investment also continues to be a core focus for organisations seeking growth and operational efficiency. Nearly two-thirds of female leaders (64%) report that their organisations now prioritise investment in new technology, compared to 36% prioritising workforce skills and capability development: a total reversal of figures reported in 2019 which saw workforce development at 63% compared to capital investments in technology at 37%. Artificial intelligence is also reportedly increasingly creating measurable value in everyday work and business operations, with nearly nine in ten female leaders already report at least one AI use case delivering profitable value. The strongest returns currently appear in the automation of repetitive administrative tasks (53%), data analytics and decision support (49%), internal knowledge management and enterprise search (48%), and process optimisation and efficiency improvement (44%). At the same time, a readiness gap remains. While 47% of respondents say employees have access to AI tools and learning opportunities, only 30% believe employees currently have the skills needed to use AI effectively. Gender equity continues to be closely linked to growth ambitions in the views of many female leaders. Nearly two-thirds (65%) believe that achieving gender equity in the C-suite will help their organisation meet its growth ambitions. However, progress remains uneven. Three-quarters of organisations remain below gender parity in their highest governing body, even though organisations with stronger female representation at the top tend to report greater confidence in future growth. Among respondents whose highest governing body consists of at least 50% women, 78% are confident in their companys growth prospects (compared to 63% expressing growth confidence in companies where women account for 20% or less of the boardroom). While the survey notes that this does not establish a causal relationship, such findings point to a clear relationship between stronger female representation and more positive business expectations. Taken as a whole, the findings highlight a leadership environment shaped by economic uncertainty, technological transformation, and evolving expectations around inclusion. Despite these pressures, female leaders continue to report strong confidence in their organisations’ ability to adapt, compete, and grow. Learn more about the findings and key insights from KPMG’s Global Female Leaders Outlook 2026 study here: https://kpmg.com/de/en/insights/business-performance-and-resilience/global-female-leaders-outlook.html

These are among the key findings of KPMG’s Global Female Leaders Outlook 2026, based on a survey of 634 female leaders across 46 countries.

Confidence among female leaders remains strongest at the organisational level where influence is felt to be most direct, with uncertainty growing about the wider economic outlook. While 72% of respondents report being confident in their own company’s growth prospects over the next three years, confidence declines as the horizon broadens. While 62% of female leaders surveyed are confident about their specific industry, only 41% express confidence about their own country, and just 29% about the global economy.

In addition to being more confident about their industry, female leaders are considerably higher confidence in their own organisations can be attributed to core business strengths rather than external tailwinds. The most frequently cited drivers behind a positive perspective of respondents’ own businesses are the strength of their company’s competitive positioning (38%), the clarity and credibility of its strategic direction (35%), organisational agility and adaptability (33%), and financial resilience (33%).

While confidence in individual company growth remains strong, plans for expansion appear more cautious. 69% of respondents expected earnings growth over the next three years, but only 38% anticipate a similar growth in headcount.

“One of the most interesting findings of this year’s study is not a loss of confidence, but a realignment of it. Female leaders remain confident where influence feels most direct: within their own organisations. Today, confidence is increasingly anchored in organizational strength, strategic clarity, adaptability and technology adoption. This helps explain why confidence in company growth prospects remains strong, even as views on the global economy have become more cautious,” – Olena Makarenko – Partner, Risk Consulting and Sustainability, Head of Impact Committee, KPMG Insight Academy Leader, KPMG in Ukraine.

Technology investment also continues to be a core focus for organisations seeking growth and operational efficiency. Nearly two-thirds of female leaders (64%) report that their organisations now prioritise investment in new technology, compared to 36% prioritising workforce skills and capability development: a total reversal of figures reported in 2019 which saw workforce development at 63% compared to capital investments in technology at 37%.

Artificial intelligence is also reportedly increasingly creating measurable value in everyday work and business operations, with nearly nine in ten female leaders already report at least one AI use case delivering profitable value. The strongest returns currently appear in the automation of repetitive administrative tasks (53%), data analytics and decision support (49%), internal knowledge management and enterprise search (48%), and process optimisation and efficiency improvement (44%).

At the same time, a readiness gap remains. While 47% of respondents say employees have access to AI tools and learning opportunities, only 30% believe employees currently have the skills needed to use AI effectively.

Gender equity continues to be closely linked to growth ambitions in the views of many female leaders. Nearly two-thirds (65%) believe that achieving gender equity in the C-suite will help their organisation meet its growth ambitions.

However, progress remains uneven. Three-quarters of organisations remain below gender parity in their highest governing body, even though organisations with stronger female representation at the top tend to report greater confidence in future growth. Among respondents whose highest governing body consists of at least 50% women, 78% are confident in their company’s growth prospects (compared to 63% expressing growth confidence in companies where women account for 20% or less of the boardroom). While the survey notes that this does not establish a causal relationship, such findings point to a clear relationship between stronger female representation and more positive business expectations.

Taken as a whole, the findings highlight a leadership environment shaped by economic uncertainty, technological transformation, and evolving expectations around inclusion. Despite these pressures, female leaders continue to report strong confidence in their organisations’ ability to adapt, compete, and grow.

Learn more about the findings and key insights from KPMG’s Global Female Leaders Outlook 2026 study here: https://kpmg.com/de/en/insights/business-performance-and-resilience/global-female-leaders-outlook.html