This installment of the 2025 Future Readiness Indicator ranks 49 technology companies, 27 pharmaceutical companies, and 41 fashion companies in terms of their future readiness. The ability to execute across entire ecosystems, not massive spending, now determines which companies will lead in an era of rapid geopolitical shifts and artificial intelligence disruption. The winners move capital, talent, and capabilities across borders and product lines faster than the world can throw up new constraints.
“We’re seeing a divergence play out. Companies that pin everything on one blockbuster are getting crushed. The ones that spread their bets across entire ecosystems aren’t just absorbing the shocks; they’re turning volatility into an advantage.
“The question every CEO should ask is simple: if my core market vanished tomorrow, would the company still stand? For most mid-market firms, the answer is no. That’s the story behind this year’s rankings.”
Howard Yu, Director of the IMD Center for Future Readiness
The Future Readiness Indicator finds that customer-centric companies with diversified offerings that demonstrate supply chain agility, regulatory adaptability, and use AI to deliver real business value are the most future-ready.
- Tech giants Nvidia, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta dominate the technology sector; their competitive edge lies in their mastery of the entire AI stack.
- Johnson & Johnson, Roche, and AstraZeneca are pharma’s most future-ready companies. Their broad diversification, combined with massive R&D spending and early AI adoption, sets them apart.
- Platform powerhouses LVMH, Inditex, and Hermès are the top-ranking fashion brands. With unmatched brand equity, supply chain expertise, and deep cash reserves, they remain ahead of the pack.
For in-depth analytics and interactive comparative graphs, please visit:
Technology
Masters of the AI stack dominate amidst a US–China tech decoupling
Pharmaceutical
From an industry of products to an industry of solutions
Fashion
The great divide: Platform dominance, sportswear turmoil, and the collapse of the legacy model
