With the dust settling on election season, the business community is shifting its focus. As Donald Trump prepares to begin his second presidential term on Monday, January 20, 2025, CEOs and corporate leaders are analyzing how his administration’s policies could shape the economy and business landscape. Industry leaders like Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, Ed Bastian of Delta, and Arvind Krishna of IBM have already voiced their perspectives on what the next four years could bring.
The Big Opportunity: Deregulation
Leaders across industries, including banking, aviation, and technology, are optimistic about the possibility of having reduced regulations under the Trump administration. At the APEC CEO Summit in Lima, Peru, Jamie Dimon remarked, “A lot of bankers, they’re dancing in the streets because they’ve had successive years of regulations, a lot of which stymied credit.” He highlighted the broader potential benefits of regulatory rollbacks across sectors, adding, “I applaud any government that says, ‘I’m going to make government more efficient.'”
Similarly, Delta CEO Ed Bastian described Trump’s regulatory approach as a potential “breath of fresh air” following what he viewed as a “level of overreach” in the past four years. IBM’s Arvind Krishna shared a sentiment related to this at Yahoo Finance’s Invest conference, emphasizing that “Business does a lot better when uncertainty goes away. We are hopeful there will be more innovation and less regulation. Both are good for businesses across the board.” Wall Street is reflecting this optimism, with hedge fund manager Scott Bessent’s announcement as Treasury Secretary further increasing confidence. Across the board, there’s a shared sentiment that deregulation could steer growth and opportunity. However, CEOs must balance these prospects with a critical consideration.
Balancing Growth With Responsibility
While deregulation can spur innovation and economic growth by reducing bureaucracy, it also shifts greater responsibility to business leaders. Without stringent oversight, the onus lies on companies to ensure that progress doesn’t come at the expense of their employees’ well-being. Critics of deregulation often highlight risks to workers’ rights and welfare, but leaders have an opportunity to redefine this narrative. Businesses can reallocate resources toward innovation and their people due to being freed from excessive oversight. By prioritizing employee health and well-being, organizations can further drive performance, loyalty, and recruitment while setting a new standard for workplace culture. Wellness is emerging as the ultimate competitive advantage. Leaders who recognize this can differentiate their companies and thrive in this competitive and evolving landscape. Here are two areas where organizations can focus their efforts:
Supporting Working Parents and Families
The economy remains a focal point for employees juggling work and family responsibilities. The challenges are particularly noteworthy for those with small children. A 2023 study by Ready Nation found that the childcare crisis alone accounted for $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue—a sharp rise from $57 billion in 2018.
Moreover, a study by Catalyst revealed that 44% of women and 37% of men are likely to change jobs to better balance childcare and work demands. To support working parents, companies can explore options such as:
- Paid childcare
- Flexible spending accounts
- Emergency care days
- Flexible work arrangements
These initiatives alleviate employees’ burdens and strengthen workplace loyalty, well-being, and morale.
Prioritizing Personal Wellness
An organization can only grow as much as its people can sustain. Companies must move beyond treating wellness as a box to check and instead integrate it into their culture. With reduced federal intervention, CEOs have an opportunity to take the lead on workplace health. This opportunity starts at the top. When executive teams model health-conscious behaviors, they set a precedent for the organization. Initiatives might include:
- Offering tailored wellness incentives
- Subsidizing advanced and in-depth health screenings
- Forming coalitions or industry groups to uphold high workplace health standards
By embracing these efforts, businesses can turn deregulation into a catalyst for employee well-being, innovation, and productivity.
The Leadership Opportunity Ahead
As Jamie Dimon, Ed Bastian, and Arvind Krishna highlight the potential benefits of deregulation, the real opportunity lies in how CEOs choose to lead. Beyond cost-cutting measures, this is a chance to innovate not just in services and products but also in workplace culture and health. Leadership in a more deregulated environment is about more than pursuing growth; it’s about creating a space where employees and businesses thrive together.