Building Future Leadership Pipelines
Rapid executive turnovers have shown how fragile leadership continuity can be.
Succession planning has moved to the top of the corporate agenda. What was once treated as a back-office compliance exercise is now recognised as a strategic necessity for resilience and competitiveness. Rapid executive turnovers have shown how fragile leadership continuity can be. Korn Ferry (2022) found that nearly half of companies globally lacked a robust CEO succession plan, a gap that became painfully visible during the pandemic.
The conversation in boardrooms has shifted. Succession is no longer about replacing a single executive; it is about creating a pipeline of future leaders who can navigate transformation with agility. It is also about identifying high-potential talent early, embedding inclusive practices, and linking leadership development directly to long-term strategy.
Research from Gartner (2022) shows that organisations with strong succession planning achieve 25% higher leadership bench strength and respond more effectively to disruption. Many are now turning to data-driven assessments and AI-powered talent analytics to anticipate readiness and guide mobility.
The focus is also expanding beyond the C-suite. Companies are investing in middle managers and technical specialists, recognising that critical shortages may emerge deeper in the organisation. The definition of leadership potential is widening too.
Instead of grooming only traditional insiders, more boards are opening pathways to women, younger professionals, and cross-border talent. Egon Zehnder (2022) reports that companies with diverse succession pipelines are 25% more likely to deliver long-term shareholder value.
Succession planning has become a story about inclusion, resilience, and foresight. Companies that treat it as a dynamic process rather than a one-time checklist will be the ones shaping the leadership landscape of tomorrow.
Career Indaba® Magazine I Timeless Career Legacy.
References: Korn Ferry (2022). CEO Succession Study; Gartner (2022). Future of Leadership Bench Strength Report. Korn Ferry. (2023). Global Succession Planning Study Africa Insights. Link Egon Zehnder. (2022). Leadership Diversity and Succession. Link
