The range of uncertainties facing business leaders around the globe in 2021 is overwhelming.

Challenges triggered by a rare airborne virus creating a global pandemic continue to unfold, combined with numerous other risk issues, such as growing social unrest and polarization, and ever-present challenges ranging from new technologies and digitization innovations to ever-changing markets, strategies and business models. Staying abreast of emerging risk issues and opportunities is becoming increasingly difficult.

Protiviti and NC State University’s ERM Initiative are pleased to provide this report focusing on the top risks currently on the minds of global boards of directors and executives. This report contains results from our ninth annual risk survey of directors and executives worldwide to obtain their views on the extent to which a broad collection of risks is likely to affect their organizations over the next year — 2021. Also, for the first time, this year we asked respondents to consider how these risks will affect their organizations a decade from now (in 2030).]