Leaders today face high stakes, as organizations across the globe are expected to be catalysts for progress. Keeping up with the latest trends in business and society is critical to making sure your company stays at the forefront of innovation and change in the new global economy. Stay Ahead, APCO’s monthly, award-winning newsletter, shares research, insights and perspectives from our team of experts around the world on issues critical to organizational success.

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APCO Stay Ahead
Look Ahead: Predictions and Trends for 2026
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"As we move into 2026, turbulence is clouding the horizon. A political centre, embodied by globalisation and liberal economics, is struggling to hold. Mandates are thin, coalitions brittle and fiscal headroom scarce. Across democracies, governments are navigating with limited consensus and shortened horizons. And in compressed news cycles, every development feels existential." 

Read more from APCO CEO Brad Staples in Finding the Chance in Mischance. 

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Looking Ahead: A 2026 Communications and Leadership Outlook  

by Kelly Williamson

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China Outlook in 2026: The Perspective From Beijing 

by Chris Torrens 

Singapore

The New Asian Century: The Quiet Pivot to Southeast Asia

by Danny Phan 

Connaught Place in New Delhi India

India Outlook 2026: India’s Rising Global Influence 

by Valerie Pinto  

 

U.S. Capitol building

Navigating 2026: Public Affairs, Policy and the New Business Imperative 

by Courtney Crowder  

Rising financial chart with indicators

Capital Market Success in 2026 

by Geoffrey Pelham-Lane & Benjamin Faull 

Row of MENA national flags

MENA Outlook 2026: Delivery Mode 

by Samer El Hachem  

 

 

European Union flags outside building

To Tap Europe’s Rich Consumer Pool, Companies Must Navigate a Complex and Changing Regulatory Landscape 

by Robert McLeod  

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What Innovation Leaders Need to Know for 2026

by David Sánchez Carmona

People analyzing futuristic data visualization

Seeing the Seeds of 2036: Five Foresight Signals Growing in 2026

by Killian MacDonald

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Reading Power in 2026: What the U.S. National Security Strategy Signals for Global Business 

by Nicole Zion 

Geopolitical Radar

APCO’s latest Geopolitical Radar is out now! It’s packed with the insights global leaders need to navigate an increasingly complex operating environment. In this edition, we explore: 

  • Security and defense as the new operating system for global business. Around the world, governments are reshaping trade, investment, technology and supply chain decisions through national security priorities. 
  • North America’s shifting economic and political posture. Evolving tariff frameworks, fiscal uncertainty and a more assertive hemispheric strategy are influencing cross-border commerce and long-term investment planning.
  • Growing strain on multilateral institutions. Fragmentation and competing governance models are redefining global coordination, standard‑setting and regulatory predictability. 

Get this edition, subscribe to future editions and get the archive of previous Radars on our website here.  

More From APCO

  • From Lonely Beginnings to Collective Power: The Rise of Women at Davos by Margery Kraus
  • 2025: The Year of Oceans—Three Milestone Events Shaping Our Blue Planet by Martha Delgado Peralta, Nicole Monge & Diego de Leon Segovia

  • Cybersecurity in Health Care: From Legal Risk to Strategic Resilience by Vusi Moyo
  • The AI Reputation Reckoning: Why Health Care Communicators Can’t Afford to Look Away by Michael O’Brien 
  • New Year, New You, New KPIs by Dasha Iventicheva & Katie Sprehe 
  • Performance Marketing at a Crossroads: Why Strategy Matters More as Automation Accelerates by Mike Woods 
  • Navigating the Policy Landscape: The Intersection of Reputation and Policy by Alana Cotter 

News From APCO

APCO

APCO Taps Into New Talent for Technology Lead, Expands Advisory Team in Brussels 

Dr. Hala Zaid

Global Health Care Leader and Advisor Dr. Hala Zaid Joins APCO’s International Advisory Council  

Stay Ahead_Gagen 2026 Priorities white paper_graphic

New White Paper: Top 5 Priorities for Human-Centered Leaders in 2026  

Building a strong culture is more important than ever—one that places people at the center, empowers employees to work, grow and collaborate and ultimately shapes a community prepared to achieve an organization’s objectives.   

The latest white paper from Gagen MacDonald, an APCO company, explores some of the biggest opportunities for businesses this year and how leaders can keep people at the center as they navigate them.   

Download the white paper here.  

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New Episode of Let Go & Lead featuring Mick Ebeling!    

Excited to share a new episode of “Let Go & Lead,” Maril MacDonald’s podcast spotlighting those leading the conversation around culture, transformation and change. This episode features Mick Ebeling, founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs, who discusses creating technology for real people and building teams around purpose rather than expertise. Mick touches on egoless leadership, the power of storytelling and why solving for one person can unlock scalable impact. He also explores failure, change and how leaders can remove distractions to help teams do their best work.  

Watch the full episode here. 

 

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