Did you see "it" coming? The companies that track weak signals always do

Some companies saw it coming. Most didn’t. The signs were there, subtle at first, then flashing like neon lights. Yet now, we’re watching boardrooms in disarray, compliance teams panic, and leadership teams ask, “Why weren’t we ready for this?”

Donald Trump is back. And whether you like it or not, his administration is making big moves across the board that significantly impact AI regulation, ESG commitments, data protection and many corporate regulations. Some companies are adjusting, pivoting, and turning change into opportunity. Others? They’re on the back foot, trying to figure out what just hit them.

This was predictable. The warning signs weren’t hidden. The question isn’t whether change is happening. The question is: did your company see it coming?

Washington moves fast, you need to move faster

Just weeks into the new administration, the landscape is shifting, dramatically.

AI regulation pulled back – The previous administration pushed for oversight and ethical AI safeguards. Trump’s team? They’re rolling regulations back, promoting innovation over restriction. If your company built its AI strategy on compliance-heavy guardrails, you probably need to review and revise.

ESG on the chopping block – Trump has never hidden his stance on ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) regulations: he sees them as bureaucratic obstacles. The administration is aggressively cutting back ESG reporting mandates. But interestingly, not all companies are abandoning ESG. Why? Because investor expectations, consumer demand, and global market forces are bigger than any administration​. And big news this week from BP abandoning its green ambitions.

Tech shakeups begin – AI regulation is shifting, and tech leaders are making their moves. Case in point: Clearview AI’s CEO just resigned. That’s not random. When leadership at a high-profile AI company suddenly steps down, it signals broader industry shifts​.

The future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)? - The Trump administration’s DEI crackdown is moving fast, eliminating federal programmes, cutting funding, and pressuring schools and companies to fall in line. The "EndDEI" portal invites complaints, and companies are already scaling back DEI efforts to avoid scrutiny. Civil rights groups are fighting back, but the landscape is shifting.

These aren’t isolated events. They’re signals. And the companies that understand how to read the signals are already positioning themselves for what’s next.

So, what about your company?

Horizon scanning: the difference between leading and being on the back foot

Too many companies operate in reactive mode. They wait for regulations to pass before they act. They wait for compliance deadlines before they prepare. They wait until their competitors have already pivoted before they start asking questions.

By the time you’re reacting, you’ve already lost control.

Horizon scanning changes that. It’s not about predicting the future, it’s about tracking relevant weak signals before they turn into regulatory, market, or operational shocks. It’s about seeing what’s coming, not waiting to be blindsided by it.

At Purpose and Means, we help companies:

• Build horizon scanning capabilities from the ground up

• Spot regulatory, tech, and societal shifts before they hit

• Develop risk-aware strategies that keep them ahead, not playing catch-up

We can work with you to develop your radars - our preferred tool is FIBRES, an excellent Finnish solution that keeps getting better and better. Horizon scanning isn’t just for executive teams. It should be embedded in your TechReg, legal, compliance, and GRC departments, because that’s where the impact is felt first. Once you have established your radars, you'll be able to analyse impacts, wargame scenarios and then prioritise business case work. To see a couple of interactive radars made with FIBRES, take a look on our Horizon Scanning and Analyse service page.

Look back over the past couple of months: did you predict it?

If your company didn’t have a horizon scanning process in place last year, here’s the test:

• Did you anticipate some AI regulations would be rolled back so quickly?

• Did you expect ESG mandates to be gutted, or did it catch you off guard?

• Did you plan for tech industry shakeups, or are you reacting now?

If you didn’t see these coming, what else are you missing?

The companies that succeed over the next few years won’t be the ones with the best lawyers or the fastest crisis response teams. They’ll be the ones that saw the changes coming first, the ones that anticipated, adjusted, and got ahead of the curve.

Act now, or get left behind

Trump's impact on AI, ESG, and regulation is just a small piece of the future of your company. More changes are coming. More policies will shift. More tech disruption will happen. And the next wave of companies will be caught off guard.

Yours doesn't have to be one of them.

At Purpose and Means, we help companies build horizon scanning into their business strategy so they can operate from a position of strength, not reaction. Because in today’s world, being proactive isn’t optional, it’s the difference between leading and lagging.

Does this resonate? Feel free to get in touch to arrange a no obligation call to discuss your horizon scanning requirements.