Boards and senior management teams in 2026 face converging external pressure, regulatory complexity and sophisticated activist strategies, which is reshaping how governance, risk oversight and corporate strategy are judged. Artificial intelligence (AI), geopolitics, sustainability mandates and regulation, market volatility and cybersecurity are colliding in ways that directly influence long-term value, resilience and accountability. Activists, regulators and investors are increasingly tying their respective agendas to corporate performance and leadership credibility.