Signal 72% of leaders say geopolitical uncertainty is affecting their organizations

Summary

In McKinsey's 2026 survey of more than 10,000 respondents, 72 percent of leaders agreed that geopolitical uncertainty is having an effect on their organizations. The report places this finding against a backdrop of trade conflicts, tariffs, political polarization, and weakening trust in global cooperation. The degree of impact is uneven, with services businesses reporting less exposure than companies that make and ship goods. Business models also matter, as do multisourcing strategies and a geographically diversified footprint. McKinsey adds that those last two factors can cut both ways, offering protection in some cases and adding exposure in others. The finding supports the report's argument that geopolitics has become a structural input into organizational design.