📈 Aligning PwC’s 27th CEO Survey with BusinessGPS.ai: A Smarter Path for SMB Reinvention, Powered by Athena

Reference: PwC 27th Annual Global CEO Survey (2024) 

The 2024 PwC CEO Survey delivers a sobering message: nearly half of global CEOs believe their company won’t survive the next 10 years without significant reinvention. Small and mid-sized business (SMB) leaders are especially vulnerable—often held back by cost constraints, limited internal capability, and scarce time or capacity to drive transformation. 

But there’s a better way forward. 

Meet Athena & the BusinessGPS.ai System 

BusinessGPS.ai offers a practical, AI-powered framework designed specifically for SMB leaders. It focuses on building adaptive, investment-ready organizations using a proven “Adopt, Adapt, Ascend” approach that starts with a simple, fast, and free strategic assessment powered by Athena Executive — your digital transformation coach. 

We’ve engineered this model to break the “one big transformation every 5 years” cycle, and instead build a habit of continuous improvement, smarter decisions, and faster execution — without overwhelming teams or draining budgets. 

Here’s how BusinessGPS.ai, Athena Executive, and our Opportunity-to-Operations (O2O) transformation method score against PwC’s nine strategic focus areas, grouped by theme: 

🔍 Theme 1: Reinvention & External Pressure 

1. 1. Long‑Term Viability & Reinvention

Score: 9/10
CEO Problem: Doubts about long-term survival
SMB Advantage: 

• • • Adopt a clear, actionable strategy fast 

• • • Adapt using Athena-guided prioritization 

• • • Ascend with an always-ready business model
      → Results: Better visibility, lower cost of trial-and-error, strategic confidence 

1. 2. Pressure from Megatrends (Tech, Climate, Customer Shift)

Score: 8/10
CEO Problem: Overwhelmed by change
SMB Advantage: 

• • • Scenario-model with AI to stress-test decisions 

• • • Use CIO avatars to add board-level insight
      → Results: More agile budgeting, better timing, less rework 

1. 3. Efficiency Drain & AI Potential

Score: 9/10
CEO Problem: 40% of CEO time is wasted
SMB Advantage: 

• • • Automate reports, workflows, and tracking 

• • • Focus leadership time on high-leverage tasks
      → Results: More strategic time, less burnout, faster progress 

🌍 Theme 2: Sustainability & Resource Reallocation 

1. 4. Climate & ESG Trade-offs

Score: 7/10
CEO Problem: ESG seen as a cost
SMB Advantage: 

• • • Link ESG to measurable ROI 

• • • AI advisors help justify green investments
      → Results: Attract investors, improve brand, avoid wasteful compliance 

1. 5. Resource Reallocation

Score: 8/10
CEO Problem: Inertia in shifting budget/time
SMB Advantage: 

• • • Athena flags stuck initiatives 

• • • O2O identifies high-ROI pivots
      → Results: Faster reallocation, higher return on effort 

1. 6. Regulatory & Talent Shortfalls

Score: 8/10
CEO Problem: Skills and rules change too fast
SMB Advantage: 

• • • Digital avatars bring affordable expertise 

• • • AI tracks compliance and skills readiness
      → Results: De-risked scaling, smaller learning curve 

🚀 Theme 3: Technology Adoption & Risk 

1. 7. Generative AI Strategy

Score: 9/10
CEO Problem: Lots of promise, little plan
SMB Advantage: 

• • • Use Athena to map where AI fits your business 

• • • Learn by doing with low-risk pilots
      → Results: Competitive edge, smarter operations, lower entry cost 

1. 8. Cybersecurity & Misinformation

Score: 8/10
CEO Problem: Rising risks with limited defence
SMB Advantage: 

• • • Embedded security planning 

• • • Avatars guide safe data use
      → Results: Fewer breaches, investor confidence, governance readiness 

1. 9. Strategic Risk Management

Score: 8/10
CEO Problem: Risks are growing—but strategies lag
SMB Advantage: 

• • • Always-on oversight through Athena 

• • • O2O planning anticipates scenarios
      → Results: More informed boards, fewer blind spots, agile pivots 

📊 Summary Table