The next chapter for CPOs starts now
Help define the next wave of product leadership
Every time I look back at the previous CPO Insights Report, I’m reminded of how quickly the ground keeps shifting under product leaders. What we published then already feels like a snapshot of a world that’s moved several frames ahead.
That’s exactly why the next edition matters. If 2025 was the year CPOs braced for chaos, 2026 is shaping up to be the year they build through it. The signals are everywhere: AI is stripping friction from product workflows, cross-functional boundaries are dissolving, and companies are reorganizing around product at a velocity that would have been unthinkable even two years ago. The CPO role is no longer negotiating for influence. It’s defining enterprise direction.
To capture this transformation with the clarity it deserves, I’m reopening our annual survey. The 2026 CPO Insights Report will rely on the same approach that made this year’s analysis so widely used across the industry: direct input from CPOs who are living the change in real time. Their experiences shaped our understanding of adaptability in hiring, shifts in success metrics, and the expanding link between product and M&A. This year, I expect the frontier to move again.
This moment also marks the start of the 2026 CPO Awards cycle. Every year, the nominations tell a story about where product leadership is going. Recognition in this community creates momentum for careers and raises the bar for the entire field.
If you’re shaping product strategy at the executive level, or if someone in your orbit is redefining what excellence looks like, now is the time to make your influence count.
Share your experience in the 2026 CPO Insights survey, or nominate a CPO for the 2026 CPO Awards.
If you’re building something great, make sure it gets the recognition it deserves. Nominations for the Q3 Product Awards are now open, celebrating innovation in IoT and Human-Centered Design. Click the banner above to submit your nomination.
Elevate your craft with our free in-person and online events designed to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
On November 20 in the Bay Area, A gathering of local product builders swapping lessons and playbooks. Register here.
On December 3 in Las Vegas, (during re:Invent): A private, invite-only salon for senior product executives. Request your invite here.
On December 11 in New York, our community meetup for product leaders shaping what’s next. Register here.
Are you curious about how AI is automating customer support and engagement? We’re launching a program to test next-gen technology designed to automate customer conversations, tickets, and workflows. If you’re interested in being among the first to try, click here to join.
We’re also exploring a pilot for AI native legal tech tools. From legal domain intelligence to task execution, these tools are saving businesses time and money. Interested? Click here to join.
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