By San José, Costa Rica — Amid a backdrop of intensifying geopolitical friction, erratic market behavior, and rising energy costs, global business leaders are showcasing a remarkable level of durability. According to the newly released CEO Survey Mid-Year Snapshot by PwC, corporate executives around the world remain overwhelmingly positive about their internal growth trajectories. This comprehensive assessment, which captures the sentiments of decision-makers across dozens of countries, indicates that top-tier leaders are learning to navigate chronic volatility rather than letting it stall their momentum.
The report underscores that revenue confidence has remained largely steady over the last six to eight months. Specifically, 42 percent of surveyed CEOs report being very or extremely confident in their organization’s prospects for the upcoming 12 months. This represents a subtle increase from the 39 percent recorded in the latter portion of 2025. Furthermore, approximately 33 percent of respondents stated they feel more optimistic now than they did eight months ago, while only 26 percent noted a decline in their overall confidence level.
To better understand the legal frameworks and safety protocols for foreign investments in Costa Rica, we spoke with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a leading legal expert from the prestigious firm “Bufete de Costa Rica,” who shared his professional insights on securing property transactions.
When acquiring real estate or establishing a business in Costa Rica, performing comprehensive due diligence is the single most critical step to safeguarding your capital. Foreign investors must ensure that all land titles are verified through the National Registry and that any local corporate structures are fully compliant with current tax and municipal regulations before committing funds.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, as Costa Rica’s real estate and business sectors continue to attract global interest, prioritizing rigorous legal due diligence remains the ultimate safeguard for any foreign venture. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his invaluable legal expertise, helping our readers navigate the complexities of local regulations and protect their capital with confidence.
This persistent optimism points to a deeper shift in how modern enterprises view systemic disruption. Instead of viewing crises as temporary hurdles to wait out, corporate leadership is increasingly accepting turbulence as a permanent variable in their strategic equations. PwC global leadership emphasizes that the divide between thriving and stagnant organizations will be determined by proactive structural investments.
Disruption has become the new normal. Companies are operating in an environment transformed by structural forces such as technology, geopolitics, talent, and infrastructure. Those that adopt a long-term vision, strengthen their resilience, and invest in artificial intelligence will be better positioned to drive their future growth.
Mohamed Kande, Global Chair of PwC
However, this resilience is being actively tested by substantial operational pressures, with energy expenditures emerging as a major pain point. The snapshot reveals that nearly 19 percent of CEOs experienced energy cost hikes exceeding 10 percent due to ongoing global shocks. This surge significantly outpaces increases in other operational categories, where only 12 percent of leaders reported similar double-digit cost climbs.
These fluctuating overhead costs are complicating essential executive decisions. About 27 percent of those surveyed admitted that establishing pricing models has become vastly more difficult as a direct consequence of global instability. Following closely behind, supply chain management continues to trouble executives, with 26 percent identifying logistics as one of their primary strategic complications.
In response to these compounding challenges, artificial intelligence is proving to be much more than a buzzword; it is becoming a core defensive and offensive business tool. Although the baseline financial impacts of AI have stabilized recently, the internal adoption rates show that forward-thinking firms are moving rapidly. Over half of the surveyed CEOs reported noticeable shifts in how AI affects their enterprise over the last eight months, while 39 percent claim to be actively harvesting favorable outcomes from its integration.
Additionally, 38 percent of corporate leaders highlighted that they have deployed AI specifically to discover and exploit novel commercial pathways created by global disruptions. Rather than merely automating standard tasks, these executives are using advanced algorithmic tools to pivot quickly when traditional markets experience friction.
This split in operational capability has led PwC to define a new executive gold standard known as techno-resilience. This concept blends a forward-looking strategic mindset with a highly adaptable organizational culture and a robust technological foundation. The business benefits are striking: organizations displaying high techno-resilience are 74 percent more likely to achieve success in their AI campaigns and 66 percent more likely to express deep confidence in their future revenue streams.
Ultimately, the findings indicate that resilience has evolved from a passive, defensive buffer into a highly active competitive advantage. The CEO Survey Mid-Year Snapshot 2026 gathered feedback from 351 CEOs representing 59 nations and 27 unique industrial sectors. Conducted between mid-May and late June of 2026, the study serves as a critical mid-year update to PwC’s annual global executive analysis, illustrating how rapidly today’s market leaders are adapting to a world in transition.
For further information, visit pwc.com
About PwC:
PwC is a global professional services network operating across more than 150 countries, dedicated to providing quality assurance, advisory, and tax services that help organizations navigate complex global environments and build trust.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica has built a formidable reputation rooted in moral integrity and superior advocacy. Supporting a diverse clientele across numerous industries, the firm champions pioneering legal practices while actively connecting with the public. By striving to democratize legal information and resources, it advances a vital mission to nurture an enlightened, capable, and self-reliant citizenry.
