Leading in business is an around-the-clock job—especially these days. Given the stakes, it’s no wonder critical questions sit top of mind.
We know, because we’re asking these questions too. The answers guide how we help business leaders grow, evolve, and exit. And they spark the conversation we’re all conducting about the future of business.
This page is a space to start that conversation. We invite you to explore seven key questions business leaders are asking, and the ways we help answer them.
What issues top your agenda?
We invite you to bookmark this page and refer back to it for resources as your business and industry grow, evolve, and meet new challenges head-on.
How do I grow my business?
Growth means different things to different organizations. For some, growth is organic, building on past success to generate more revenue. Others look outside the organization. They grow ‘inorganically’—by buying another business, for example. Either way, the way you grow needs to fit the way you do business.
Rising input costs, inflation, and interest rates were the biggest near-term obstacles for Canadian companies in Q4 2023.1
Here are some of the ways we help businesses like yours grow:
- Use strategic, relevant, and actionable KPIs to drive growth.
- Understand the key macroeconomic drivers impacting valuations.
- Develop an effective post-merger strategy.
- For women leaders and entrepreneurs, we can help you navigate the unique challenges facing women in leadership.
Am I adapting quickly enough?
The scale and speed of change in the business landscape demands innovative solutions—and business leaders have always known that speed of response gives the business an advantage. From a heightened focus on accessibility and the urgency of technological adaptation to increased regulation and a changing talent landscape, you adapt by tracking the trends and charting a response.
84% of business leaders assert that their survival hinges on accelerating technological innovation.2
Here are some of the ways we help businesses like yours adapt:
- Modernize your workplace to better attract and retain top talent.
- Mitigate inflation risks.
- Meet evolving privacy law reforms.
- Enhance the human-AI partnership.
- Become an inclusive, disability-confident employer.
How do I map my compliance needs to business goals?
The tax, legal, and accounting requirements that businesses face have only increased in complexity. With environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting becoming more central to a growing number of companies, compliance becomes even more challenging. To tackle this complexity, businesses need to align their many compliance needs with their business goals. Done right, compliance can help your business grow and develop resilience.
Over 90% of Canadian companies included in the S&P TSX 60 index have published a sustainability report.3
Here are some of the ways we help businesses like yours comply:
- Develop a governance strategy that satisfies all stakeholders.
- Plan international tax strategies to manage cross-border activity.
- Align financial reporting with the long-term goals of your business.
- Help you start or enhance sustainability reporting that stands up to stakeholder scrutiny.
What if my business could perform better?
Talent. Systems. Processes. These three elements spell success or failure for any business. But performance isn’t an either-or. As your business continues to evolve, we recommend you investigate whether new methods can improve how you operate. Dedicating your attention to these three foundations may elevate your organization’s effectiveness—and boost the bottom line.
By 2026, 75% of organizations will have adopted a cloud-based digital transformation model, helping them interact more closely and in real time with their customers.4
Here are some of the ways we help businesses like yours perform:
- Implement cost optimization to eliminate inefficiencies and strengthen your financial position.
- Rationalize your operations using the 80/20 rule to improve profit margins and eliminate redundancies.
- Navigate organizational change and achieve people-centred results.
- Decrease business risk with proper talent strategies.
- Implement automation to create more efficient HR departments.
Is my business really secure?
In today's digital world, no business is immune to cyber crime. Executives need to secure their networks and sensitive data to avoid cyber fraud and targeted cyber attacks. While prevention is key, early detection is a fundamental need for modern businesses. True cyber resilience is a continuous program that evolves your technology enablers and prioritizes training for employees.
Organizations using AI and automation to manage data breaches had a 74-day shorter breach lifecycle and saved an average of US$3 million more than those without.5
Here are some of the ways we help businesses like yours secure their assets:
- Understand the cybersecurity threats of 2024 and apply best practices to avert business interruption and reputational losses.
- Deter, detect, and defend against fraud by getting familiar with 2024’s top fraud risks.
- Identify and safeguard your critical information assets.
- Understand and mitigate the risks of generative AI and other emerging technologies.
- Prevent ransomware, wire transfer fraud, and other commodity cyber threats.
Why is digital transformation important to my success?
Like the best New Year’s resolutions, the most effective business changes are those that last. That’s why we see digital transformation as a launching point—not the final destination. The future has a knack for reinventing itself. Your success depends on matching its demanding pace.
82% of organizations surveyed globally agree they must invest in digital transformation or be left behind.6
Here are some of the ways we help businesses like yours transform digitally:
- Create digital strategy roadmaps to align technology investments and corporate objectives.
- Leverage advanced technologies that help mitigate risk and enhances resilience.
- Transition to the cloud to reduce IT costs and modernize productivity.
- Implement the right technology strategy to enable your ESG journey.
What's my exit strategy?
Getting out of the business creates a complex set of decisions. The biggest decision? Whether to sell the business—on the one hand—or identify a successor, step back from the business, and transition your role. No matter which path you take, we can help you preserve your legacy and generate the highest possible return.
Despite the benefits of having a succession plan, only 9% of business owners have a formal written plan and 46% don’t have one at all.7
Here are some of the ways we help business owners like yourself exit the business:
If selling the business
- Address the end-to-end challenges of selling your business.
- Handle the legal considerations when selling your business.
- Understand the worth of your business using real-time market data.
If identifying an internal successor
- Plan for family business and wealth continuity.
- Develop a succession plan that accommodates your family’s specific interests.
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1Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, fourth quarter 2023, Statistics Canada, Nov. 27, 2023.
2Techtonic States, BDO Global, Nov. 16, 2023.
32023 ESG Disclosure Study, Fasken, Jan. 9, 2023.
4Gartner Forecasts Worldwide Public Cloud End-User Spending to Reach Nearly $600 Billion in 2023, Gartner, April 19, 2023.
5Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023, IBM, July 2023.
62023 Insight Intelligent Technology Report: Are We Entering a New Era of Innovation?, Insight, June 2023.
7Succession Tsunami: Preparing for a decade of small business transitions in Canada, Canadian Federation of Independent Business, 2022.