Corporate communications leaders are managing multiple seismic shifts at once: geopolitical instability that's redefining the CEO's public role, AI transformation reshaping how communications functions operate, and recalibrated expectations around corporate engagement on societal issues. As these forces converge, executives need strategic clarity on where to invest, where to pull back, and how to position their organizations for what's ahead.

Jim O'Leary, CEO of North America and Global President at Weber Shandwick, and Luke Hartig, President of Gravity Research, convened for a strategic discussion on the evolving landscape for corporate communications. Drawing on insights from Fortune CCO convenings and frontline client work, the session explored:

• Geopolitics and CEOs as political actors — how global instability is creating new openings (and pitfalls) for communications functions, and what Fortune 500 CCOs identified as their top priority heading into 2026
• AI transformation and the communications function — the role AI is playing in reshaping corporate communications, and how it relates to the broader confidence gap that's closing in some areas while widening specifically around AI adoption and governance
• The pendulum on corporate activism — whether and how corporate America is pulling back from societal issues in the wake of Minneapolis and other flashpoint moments, and what a recalibrated approach looks like for brands navigating stakeholder expectations
• Practical positioning for communications leaders — from managing internal alignment to making strategic choices about when, where, and how to engage on issues that intersect business and society