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The latest trends in society and culture from The Harris Poll
Good morning from Las Vegas.
One Interesting Number: 82: Call it The “Friends” Effect: Harris finds that (82%) of Gen Z enjoy content released 10+ years ago. But it’s not mere nostalgia; claiming artifacts is also a way for today’s youth to feel reassured of simpler times.
Beyond The Ladder: Ambition, Redefined
Along with Chief, we spoke to a diverse group of C-Suite executives, entrepreneurs, and founders, who challenge any assertion that women leaders are dialing back their ambition.
- What we found: Senior women leaders are more ambitious today than five years ago (86%). Most (71%) have even recently navigated career transitions by choice.
- The stat you can’t ignore: Companies with women executives outperform competitors by (30%), and women founders deliver higher ROI when funded.
- What to consider: Nearly three-quarters (72%) aren’t afraid of straying from the “perfect” career track. They’re rejecting the rules that never served them, and rewriting the playbook that wasn’t written for them.
What this means: “This momentum isn’t by chance, it’s by choice. Today’s women leaders are redefining ambition on their own terms. They’re expanding what success looks like for them, trading old markers like title and salary for autonomy, flexibility, and real impact,” writes Sabrina Caluori, CMO at Chief, and Libby Rodney, our Harris CSO. “These are women fully in command of their choices, building careers and lives that balance ambition with authenticity. They’re reshaping the very definition of leadership, crafting multidimensional, multihyphenate careers that reflect who they are and what they stand for.”
The American Worker Readiness Gap
Shaken by this week’s news that tens of thousands of white collar jobs are vanishing, most workers feel ill-prepared in our study with Instructure.
- What we found: Nearly three-quarters (73%) of American employees feel unprepared to adapt to career disruptions in the next five years, with a third (32%) worrying their skills wouldn’t survive an economic downturn.
- The stat you can’t ignore: Three-fifths (60%) want to upskill, but aren’t sure which credentials matter for their career, and (50%) are unsure which certifications, or skills employers will actually value.
- What to consider: Readiness is the new currency of work. Nearly three-quarters (72%) trust earning certifications will unlock real career opportunities. Self-funding is even common, with (55%) of workers having paid out-of-pocket for training their employer didn’t cover (University of Phoenix-Harris Poll).
What this means: In a constantly shifting world, being ready isn’t optional; it’s essential. “Workers are telling us they want to grow, but what they really need is direction. Their motivation is strong, but the paths to turn that into progress are still too fragmented,” said Melissa Loble, chief academic officer at Instructure.
The Public and Investors Diverge on AI
As executives race to deploy AI’s transformative potential, the public is increasingly unconvinced, according to our new poll with JUST Capital and Robin Hood Foundation.
- What we found: The vast majority (96%) of investors believe AI will have a net positive impact on worker productivity. However, less than half (47%) of the public thinks the same.
- The stat you can’t ignore: Investors believe any AI-related profitability gains should be distributed to shareholders (28% v. public: 11%), while the public favors distribution across multiple efforts.
- What to consider:While both investors and the public agree on the need for safety measures, a growing tension from the divergence in usefulness and potential gains may just hinder the full potential.
What this means: AI’s full promise of unlocking business value and broader prosperity needs buy-in from all stakeholders. Or, the gap between investors, business, and the public will only grow. “We’re at an inflection point. Every day, leaders are grappling with both the opportunities AI creates and the risks it poses at scale. What responsible AI leadership looks like is being defined in real time,” says JUST Capital CEO Martin Whittaker.
