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What’s become increasingly clear from Grant Thornton’s latest International Business Report (IBR) research is that these businesses view sustainability as a path to growth, not an obstacle – and certainly not a compliance box to be ticked. They value the commercial opportunities sustainability can bring and are putting significant resource behind it. We see that firms in all regions remain committed to sustainability, largely because of the long-term benefits they perceive it brings to profit, revenue and international expansion. As such, their drive to build sustainability within their businesses is unwavering. It is a drive from which I believe we will all benefit.

Grant Thornton International’s latest Women in Business research reveals that 44.6% of mid-market businesses globally now have a female CFO, marking a major step toward gender parity in finance leadership. This article explores the factors driving this shift—including macroeconomic disruptions and increased female participation in education—and how the rise of female CFOs can catalyze broader change across the C-suite. It highlights the potential for CFOs to mentor other women, influence boardroom dynamics, and transition into CEO roles, ultimately reshaping leadership across mid-market businesses.

In a new Grant Thornton series on trending international insights, we examine the wider impact of tariffs on the mid-market, where a dip in market confidence at the start of 2025 was just the start of more to come. The global economy may suffer further as trade tensions and uncertainty persist, but if there’s a silver lining, its likely to be found in the mid-market – the most resilient and opportunistic segment of the business landscape.

In the next edition of Grant Thornton’s series on trending international insights, we examine how a shifting economic landscape can offer the mid-market an opportunity to grow while their larger counterparts opt to ‘wait and see.’ Our report highlights key trends such as digital trade, supply chain resilience, shifting trade agreements, and the impact of geopolitical uncertainty on international commerce.

The Women in Business project has explored what helps, and what hinders, women in the workplace through a period that’s offered plenty of challenge. Global mid-market companies have navigated the financial crisis of 2007-08, worked through the pandemic and currently contend with the impact of geopolitical tension and conflict.

Are energy costs affecting your business? Here’s what you need to know. Rising energy costs are a concern for global mid-market businesses, impacting operational expenses and long-term planning. The UAE has made significant strides in diversifying its energy sources. Grant Thornton has consulted with global energy industry leaders to understand how businesses are navigating these changes. For more detailed insights on the report, you can find the full article in the link below.

The Women in Business project has explored what helps, and what hinders, women in the workplace through a period that’s offered plenty of challenge. Global mid-market companies have navigated the financial crisis of 2007-08, worked through the pandemic and currently contend with the impact of geopolitical tension and conflict.

Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR) has been casting a light on the issue of gender diversity in senior management at mid-market businesses for 19 years, exposing barriers and identifying facilitators of change.

The world’s leading survey of mid-market companies, Grant Thornton’s IBR, once again provides vital insight into the health of the global mid-market. These results for H1 2019 reflect the views of nearly 5,000 mid-market companies across 30+ countries interviewed in May and June of this year.

Our 2015 women in business report looks at how to facilitate the career paths of women into senior management and offers 12 recommendations to society, government, businesses and women themselves about how to better support female advancement.

Investor calls for transparency and the rise of social media have thrust the impact businesses have on the economy, the environment and society more firmly into the spotlight. Drawing on more than 2,500 interviews with business leaders in 34 economies, Corporate Social Responsibility: beyond financials, looks at how companies are responding to this challenge; how they are making their operations more sustainable and what role they feel integrated reporting can play.

Our International Business Report with insights gained from in-depth interviews with five senior female executives from around the world, this report looks at the role of education in improving female participation and how this can help boost business growth.