THE BRIEFING
CREDIT: MARIS MEZULIS
THE 15-MINUTE HQ
The traditional central business district( CBD) is losing its grip on the city. In 2026, Fortune 500s are swapping isolated corporate towers for decentralised hubs more akin to residential neighbourhoods.
Data from real estate firm CBRE shows rental growth in these mixed-use zones is doubling compared to CBDs used almost exclusively for high-density office work. Paris is an example. The city’ s Le Parc project is transforming the skyscraper-packed La Défense district into a five-hectare urban forest home to the likes of TotalEnergies, Saint-Gobain and Société Générale.
54 %
CEO’ s now dedicate 54 % of their exclusively to short-term issues( under 12 months) rather than long-term strategy – a reactive leadership style analysts say is the primary barrier to delivering 2030 sustainability goals.
Source: PwC: 2026 Global CEO Survey Update
x $ 5
For every $ 1 spent on software, topperforming firms are now allocating $ 5 to upskilling and workflow redesign
Source: McKinsey: The State of Organizations 2026
20 May 2026