Accenture CEO Julie Sweet has shared insights on how CEOs are navigating the current economic landscape amid uncertainty around tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. In a recent interview, she said that the recent developments have been quite a distraction, though leaders expressed relief at them. However, she emphasised that CEOs are admitting that they don’t have tailwinds in the environment and must focus on execution. Sweet explained that while tariff concerns have created some distractions, company leaders are committed to winning regardless of the atmosphere. She also noted that leaders are holding numerous meetings to ensure their companies remain focused on performance despite the harsh, uncertain conditions. Speaking in a Bloomberg Television interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sweet said, “This week has been quite a bit of a distraction. I think we’re all relieved at what came out yesterday, but at the same time, it’s only been a distraction in the big conversation. I have had so many meetings with companies, and that’s too bad, but let’s make sure we’re winning regardless of the atmosphere. So it’s been more of a distraction more in the media, but I will tell you, and you know, CEOs are saying, we don’t have tailwinds in the environment; we have to execute.”
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet on the US and Europe competing in the digital race ‘
In the interview, Sweet also explained why the US has been ahead of the EU in the digital race and how European companies have been catching up. She said, “The US companies today, and that’s really what data has said, the US has been ahead in the digital race, and because you need a digital foundation, US-based companies are ahead, but lots of global companies, including in Europe. We have lots of great global European companies that are very fast. It’s not so much about whether it’s the US or Europe. It comes down to whether your data is in the cloud; if you don’t have a digital foundation, it’s hard to go fast. Across the world, in every geography, there are great companies that have been investing, and those that have not have to catch up there, along with all the other changes that you need to make.”
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet on the importance of data centres
Sweet also highlighted the importance of data centres for countries to stay ahead in the AI race. She said: “Data centres are absolutely critical because that’s the infrastructure of the country, and so that’s exploding. In fact, we just bought another company to do data centre consulting because of that. And you have to think about it long term. I think the mistake that some people are making is that this isn’t about the data centre today. It’s about a strategy, and that’s what we’re seeing countries doing, and we’re helping countries do that, particularly as you think about sovereign AI, and they need to have the data centres to support that. And I’ve been spending a lot of time right here in Davos on that topic.”
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