Strengths: It should be no surprise that execution is genuinely strong among practitioners. Highest average scores are in technical/digital competency and clear writing. We also see ourselves as strategic since strategic thinking is the second-most cited strength in the open comments…so we do not lack ambition or self-belief.

Weaknesses: Measurement is the clearest weakness. It’s the lowest score overall with the with data & analytics being stated as the most-named growth theme in the comments. So it leaves me to wonder about the belief we are strategic when we see ourselves as weak in measurement and accountability. Executive presence or being seen as a trusted advisor to executives is the second weakness worth naming.

Opportunities: People with broader scope (internal and external) across the discipline score higher than purely internal roles and AI is being asked for, not feared in the open comments.

Threats: Being seen as a cost centre, not strategic function is the through-line of risk. Coming back to the measurement gap…without it, it’s not just a personal skills weakness, but a mechanism through which the whole function’s credibility is at risk. The second is the capacity issue. We are so pulled into execution that there is often no time left for strategy.

Does this resonate or do you disagree with these findings?

I’m genuinely curious about how much has changed in the last year and won’t really have a good understanding until we have more of you participate. Stay tuned for the 2026 Benchmark survey that will be out shortly!