The mid-market maze
How business leaders can successfully navigate the next decade
How do you scale with confidence in a world that refuses to stand still?
Today’s business leaders find themselves in an environment shaped by volatility, constraint and rapid change. Political uncertainty, regulatory intensity, technological disruption and tightening access to critical resources are converging to challenge established growth models.
Opportunity still exists – but it’s harder to find, tougher to capture and easier to lose.
Success demands sharper judgement, stronger capabilities and leadership teams built for speed, resilience and decisive action.
As organisations seek clarity and direction, Baker Tilly has looked ahead to 2035, combining advanced scenario modelling with insights from mid-market executives across the globe. The result is a forward-looking view of how growth may unfold, and what it will take to lead through it.
Key findings
Where growth will come from – and where it won’t
The picture that emerges is a future where significant risks can be converted into promising opportunities with the right direction and leadership.
Executives believe that in a technology-saturated world, mid-market businesses that can demonstrate their human value are the ones that will win, and that ethical, purpose-driven leadership will become a critical differentiator in the next decade.
But are leaders capable of leveraging these potential advantages in the hyper-regulated, supply-constrained world of 2035 that they predict?
The leadership test ahead
Our research shows that the leaders who excel will be those who adapt with purpose and drive their organisations forward boldly.
To thrive, executives will need the confidence to act early, embrace uncertainty and build organisations capable of scaling now to secure advantage tomorrow.
We are keen to hear your perspective on the future. Share your thoughts with us at midmarketfutures@bakertilly.global so that we can continue to shape insights that help ambitious mid‑market leaders thrive.
There's more to The mid-market maze
What you have seen here are just the headlines. The full report goes deeper into the data, the insights and the real-world moves leaders need to make to get ahead.
Challenge your assumptions
Assess risk and opportunity from every angle
Stress-test your strategy for what’s next
