Time to Realign: What Leaders Bring to 2026
Reflections from the First KP Insight Room in Bangkok
The beginning of a new year often brings momentum: new priorities, renewed energy, and ambitious plans for what lies ahead. Yet for many organizations, 2026 is also beginning with a deeper need — not simply to accelerate, but to realign.
In today’s business environment, shaped by continuous transformation, evolving workforce expectations, and increasing complexity across global markets, leadership requires more than execution. It requires clarity. It requires reflection. And it requires the ability to identify what truly matters before moving forward.
This was the guiding spirit behind the first edition of the KP Insight Room, launched by Kilpatrick Executive on February 6th, 2026, in Bangkok, in collaboration with the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC). The session brought together business and HR leaders for an off-the-record roundtable designed to foster thoughtful dialogue around what organizations should carry into the year ahead — and what may need to be left behind.
A Curated Space for Leadership Conversations in Asia
The KP Insight Room was created to offer something intentionally different from traditional business events. It is not a panel, a keynote, or a formal conference format. Instead, it is a curated space for senior leaders to engage in honest, high-impact conversation around the challenges shaping executive leadership today. Organized by Andrea Spiriti, CEO Asia, this first session was titled: “Time to Realign – What We Carry Into 2026.” The discussion unfolded through three interconnected themes:
- The Year That Changed the Rules: Lessons from 2025
- Designing for What’s Next: What 2026 Demands
- Leading with Intention: Shaping People Strategies That Stick
Each theme invited participants to reflect not only on organizational priorities, but also on the deeper leadership decisions required in a rapidly evolving landscape — particularly across Asia’s dynamic markets.
2025: A Year That Redefined the Rules
The conversation began with a simple but powerful question:
If you had to describe 2025 in one word, what would it be?
The responses captured the complexity of the year: Transformation, Unexpected, Complex, Exciting, Change, New Beginnings. A year of contrasts, where disruption and reinvention often unfolded simultaneously.
When leaders reflected on what had the most positive impact inside their organizations in 2025, a clear shift emerged. The most meaningful progress was not necessarily driven by structural changes or technology investments, but by priorities rooted in people and culture.
Participants highlighted:
- A stronger focus on people and organizational culture
- Smarter, more deliberate decision-making
- Greater alignment across teams and leadership structures
These reflections reinforced an important insight: in times of uncertainty, the true engine of value creation lies in relationships, trust, and clarity — not systems alone.
The Decisions That Paid Off Were the Most Intentional Ones
Leaders were then asked what decisions truly “paid off” over the past year. The answers were grounded in experience and often centered around focus, courage, and long-term thinking.
Participants spoke about:
- Reorganizing with intention and decisiveness
- Prioritizing fewer, more strategic goals
- Investing in people, partnerships, and leadership capability
- Choosing quality over quantity in execution
- Protecting culture as a long-term advantage rather than a short-term consideration
These were not simply good decisions — they were deliberate ones, often requiring leaders to slow down, rethink, and say no to what no longer served the organization’s direction.
The conversation also turned inward, highlighting personal leadership lessons from 2025. Many participants emphasized the importance of staying close to people, listening more carefully, and recognizing that resilience is not just endurance — but recalibration.
What 2026 Demands: Adaptability with Cohesion
The second part of the session shifted toward the future. As leaders looked ahead to 2026, the discussion focused on the evolving challenges organizations are likely to face in the coming year.
Participants identified themes that resonate across industries:
- Managing uncertainty while maintaining momentum
- Scaling organizations without losing alignment
- Building trust and clarity across growing teams
- Navigating new roles, new expectations, and changing workforce dynamics
Organizations today are not simply growing — they are evolving, often without a clear map. This makes leadership cohesion and intentional design more critical than ever.
When asked where leaders would invest most as they set priorities for 2026, the group pointed to:
- People and skills
- Technology and tools
- Culture and ways of working
- Organizational design
- Leadership development
The signal was clear: adaptability remains central, but it must now be paired with capability, alignment, and cultural coherence.
Designing Organizations for the Next Phase
One of the most action-oriented moments came with a final question:
If you could redesign one part of your organization to meet the challenges of 2026, what would it be?
The responses reflected bold ambition and strategic awareness:
- Delegating authority more effectively
- Strengthening engagement and trust across teams
- Sharpening customer focus
- Improving integration across APAC
- Increasing speed of execution
- Creating clarity around incentives, structure, and vision
These were not surface-level suggestions. They reflected a deeper understanding that the next phase of organizational success will depend on alignment — internally, culturally, and strategically.
A Room That Thinks Together
What made this first edition of the KP Insight Room unique was not only the insight shared, but the atmosphere it created: a space for honest reflection, shared perspective, and meaningful dialogue among leaders facing similar complexities.
Kilpatrick Executive extends sincere thanks to all participants for their openness and thoughtful contributions, and to the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce for hosting this important conversation in Bangkok.
Special thanks to Andrea Spiriti for shaping this first impactful edition and helping bring the Insight Room concept to life in Asia.
What’s Next
The KP Insight Room will return with future sessions across Asia, continuing to explore the decisions, dynamics, and people strategies shaping leadership in 2026 and beyond.
Because moving forward is not only about having answers — it is about creating the spaces where better questions can emerge.
Stay Connected
If you would like to learn more about upcoming roundtables, leadership conversations in Asia, or executive talent needs across the region, we would be pleased to connect.
📩 asean@kpexs.com
📩 a.spiriti@kpexs.com
Kilpatrick Executive
Steer Tomorrow
