As we look back on 2025, we see a year defined by accelerated technological change, rapidly evolving geopolitical alignments and intense debate about economic and institutional durability. Throughout the year, INSEAD faculty provided clarity, evidence-based insights and forward-looking perspectives to help individuals and organisations navigate an increasingly complex environment. 

At the beginning of the year, we published our Five Global Trends in Business and Society in 2025, which captured INSEAD faculty’s views on the forces most likely to shape our world in the months ahead. Climate change, geopolitical crises, income and wealth inequality, social instability, inflation and recession all emerged as sobering and, as it turned out, very real concerns.

There were also milestones worth celebrating. Philippe Aghion became INSEAD’s first Nobel laureate, receiving the Nobel Prize in Economics for his theory of growth through creative destruction. Meanwhile, Singapore ranked first in the 2025 Global Talent Competitiveness Index by INSEAD and the Portulans Institute, reinforcing its position as a global hub for talent.

If 2025 proved anything, it’s that agility and resilience remain the ultimate strategic assets. From breakthrough research on generative AI and sustainability to insights on leadership, geopolitics and innovation, here’s a selection of impactful content we’ve published in the last year. 

Thank you for reading INSEAD Knowledge. We wish you a rejuvenating holiday season and a wonderful year ahead. 

Will Our Institutions Keep Up With AI?

INSEAD’s first Nobel laureate, Philippe Aghion, argues that AI's productivity potential hinges on institutional readiness, not the technology alone. Without strong competition policies, shared infrastructure investment and universal AI education, AI risks increasing market concentration rather than driving growth.

Check out more research on Economics & Finance.

Is Your Boss a Seductive Operational Bully?

Not all leaders build healthy cultures. Manfred F. R. Kets de Vries examines the phenomenon of the SOB (seductive operational bully). These are leaders who build cults rather than teams, and who combine surface-level charm with underlying aggression. He offers guidance on how to recognise them and resist their influence.

Explore more Career advice and tips.

Managing Supply Chain Risks in the Age of Trump

Ben Charoenwong explores how companies can pivot strategically in response to major political shifts. Together with his co-authors, he found that companies reduce sourcing by around 10 percent from countries that become ideologically different after elections. The effect is strongest in nations with strong institutions, where new governments can swiftly implement policy changes.

Browse more insightful Operations content. 

Family Offices and the Indian Opportunity

Indian public equities continue to outperform global benchmarks, with the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City emerging as a gateway for investors. Yet, many non-Indian family offices remain hesitant. A study of European and the Gulf regions’ family businesses by Balagopal Vissa and his co-author uncovered the frictions in investing in India, alongside optimism for broader participation in the near future. 

Delve deeper into more Family Business insights.

"McKinsey in a Box": The End of Strategic Consulting?

AI systems using dynamic multi-method generation are democratising strategic consulting by replicating McKinsey-level analytical capabilities at a fraction of the cost. For instance, Xavier AI, co-founded by Philip M. Parker, delivers presentation-ready strategic insights within minutes. Could this be the end of strategic consulting as we know it?

Read more about how AI is transforming sectors.

Are Men’s Ideas Valued More Than Women’s?

Research by Michaël Bikard and his co-authors shows that inventors cite scientific papers authored by women less often than those by men. Their findings reveal that the science-to-technology pipeline is influenced not only by the quality of ideas, but also by persistent gender biases – a sobering reminder that inequality continues to shape innovation.

Discover more articles, videos and podcasts about Responsibility.

How to Lead Like No One Has Led Before

Chief learning officers, chief sustainability officers and other “non-traditional” leaders are challenging the tried-and-true template and reshaping the leadership landscape. Gianpiero Petriglieri and his co-author explore how these marginal leaders can define their purpose to carve out meaningful roles alongside conventional leaders.

Discover more about Leadership & Organisations.

Meet the Model: How to Market to LLMs (and Sell to Humans)

As consumers increasingly rely on AI tools for product recommendations, brands must focus on "Share of Model", their visibility within large language models, rather than traditional search rankings. David Dubois and his co-authors outline targeted content strategies that can help brands remain relevant in an AI-driven marketplace.

View more Marketing content.

The Economics of Sustainability

Businesses can do well by doing good. Karel Cool, Atalay Atasu and Nathan Furr show how companies’ sustainability initiatives can both reduce costs and boost demand, and not just benefit the planet. Their research demonstrates that the business case for sustainability is not simply theoretical but a source of competitive advantage.  

Dig into more Strategy articles, videos and podcasts.

Search Funds: A Rising Asset Class Outperforming PE and VC

With venture capital deals slowing and private equity under pressure, Ivana Naumovska, Academic Director of INSEAD’s ETA & Search Funds Hub, and her co-author examine the rise of search funds and how they compare with more established asset classes. This emerging investment model is quietly minting millionaires, offering a distinctive combination of risk, governance and exit flexibility.

Get more Entrepreneurship insights.