The honest state of play today The adoption of AI is seen as a business imperative. One in six people globally now uses generative AI. Around 85% of organisations say they expect to deploy customised AI agents soon. Most boards have an AI slide, most peers claim an AI strategy, and somewhere in your inbox there is inevitably a pitch for an enterprise licence, a new model, an agent platform, a data layer and a consultant, all promising the same thing. And yet … the reality is

CMOs are operating in a constant state of evolution. New technologies, shifting business expectations and increasing complexity mean there's no one-size-fits-all model for marketing. Success comes from asking the right questions, and building the capabilities to answer them. Grace Blue and Flock Associates work together to bring the best structures, models and talent to build thriving marketing teams. Here are five questions we challenge CMOs to ask themselves, and the capab

We recently surveyed Chief People Officers across our international network. One finding stood out: 90% want their search partner to bring a clear perspective on where the industry is heading and the capabilities leaders will need to get there, not just evidence of what candidates have done before. Senior hiring has always been anchored to track record, and rightly so. But in markets that are moving faster and becoming more complex, past experience and future readiness are no

2026 will mark a shift in what differentiates leaders. Not technical expertise. Not speed. But judgment, clarity, and intentionality in a world shaped by AI, complexity, and constant change.