**The big picture:** A Highspring study reveals a significant C-suite divide on organizational preparedness for unexpected disruptions, with CFOs perceiving twice as much exposure as CEOs across key business functions. This highlights a 45-percentage-point confidence gap between perceived readiness and actual planning for unforeseen events. **Why it matters:** This leadership disconnect directly impacts strategic planning for talent, retention, and reskilling, which are critical for navigating a rapidly evolving labor market and ensuring business continuity. **Between the lines:** - CFOs see roughly twice as much exposure as CEOs across 10 business functions. - Only 30% of CIOs are very confident in handling major disruptions, compared to 52% of CEOs. - Talent-related issues, including retention and reskilling, account for three of the top six challenges identified by executives. **Staffing & HR impact:** Staffing firms and HR leaders must proactively address this perception gap to align talent strategies with actual business risks, focusing on robust reskilling programs and retention initiatives. This directly influences recruiter mobility and the ability to secure critical skills for future workforce resilience. **The bottom line:** Achieving leadership alignment on business preparedness is crucial for effective workforce planning and strategic pivots in an era of constant disruption.