A new survey by Grant Thornton, a provider of audit, tax and advisory services, highlights the shifting priorities of chief financial officers (CFOs) in the technology sector. As the tech landscape evolves, these executives are increasingly focused on fostering organizational culture, investing in artificial intelligence (AI), and enhancing cybersecurity, even as economic pressures loom.
Culture Takes Center Stage
The survey found that 58% of tech CFOs consider organizational culture their top human capital priority, marking a significant increase from 45% last year. This shift reflects a broader industry trend toward sustainable growth and employee retention.
“In the tech industry, the mentality of growth at all costs has subsided,” Andrea Schulz, national managing principal of technology at Grant Thornton Advisors, said. “Companies can’t rely on money alone to retain their best talent. That’s why culture is becoming a key focus — it represents a much-needed refresh.”
Building a culture rooted in shared values and identity can also drive workforce motivation and innovation. Leaders are increasingly tying culture to key business goals, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives, while offering clear paths for career advancement to retain top talent.
AI Investment on the Rise
AI continues to dominate technology investment strategies, with 58% of surveyed CFOs prioritizing it as a top focus for 2025. As generative AI (GenAI) and automation reshape the industry, companies are grappling with its implications for traditional roles, even highly skilled ones like software engineering.
“AI is even affecting people with important skills in the tech industry, such as software engineers,” Alon Avdi, senior manager of Growth Advisory Services at Grant Thornton, said. “Their jobs were almost never at risk before, but with advances in GenAI, even these roles face disruption.”
The survey also revealed that 46% of tech CFOs foresee potential layoffs in the next six months, up from 31% in last year’s survey, underscoring the economic pressures driving automation and cost optimization efforts.
Schulz noted that while AI presents challenges, it also offers opportunities for companies to rethink workforce roles and processes. “It’s a matter of how workers adapt to GenAI and how companies deal with potential obsolescence or reduced demand for certain skills.”
Cybersecurity Remains Critical
As AI advances, it also heightens cybersecurity risks, making training and awareness a critical area of investment for 33% of CFOs surveyed. While this marks a slight decline from last year’s 37%, external partnerships for cybersecurity expertise have seen a sharp rise, jumping from 9% to 21%.
“Some companies are realizing that they don’t have the depth of talent to keep up with the rapid changes in cybersecurity,” Schulz said. “External partnerships can provide the specialized knowledge needed to stay ahead.”
Cybersecurity remains a human-centric challenge, with employees often being the weakest link. Schulz emphasized the importance of fostering a workforce that is critically engaged with cybersecurity threats. “Your biggest risk is still your people, and they need to have the right professional skepticism.”
Looking Ahead
As the tech industry navigates economic challenges and rapid technological advancements, CFOs are balancing cultural investments, AI adoption and cybersecurity enhancements to position their companies for sustained growth.
