Leadership in an Age of Disruption: A Conversation with Mitt Romney

Kathryn Hamilton, CAE for Market Share Blog | May 1, 2026

In a wide-ranging conversation at NAIOP’s National Forums Symposium this week in Salt Lake City, former U.S. Senator Mitt Romney shared candid insights on leadership, economic uncertainty, artificial intelligence and the future of American institutions. Drawing from decades in both public service and private equity, Romney offered a sobering – but ultimately hopeful – assessment of where he sees the country stand today.

A Defining Moment of Disruption

Romney didn’t mince words when describing the current moment.

“This is a turbulent, difficult time to make any predictions,” he said. “It is an inflection point in global history.”

He compared today’s environment to major turning points like the Industrial Revolution and the rise of the semiconductor – but emphasized that artificial intelligence may surpass them all in impact.

“AI is quite significantly more dramatic in terms of the impact it’s going to have on the economy, on geopolitics, on our families’ lives. It is a completely disruptive technology,” he said.

At the same time, he pointed to compounding challenges: rising national debt, geopolitical competition with China, and a growing mental health crisis among young people.

“With all those things going on, this is probably a time for strong leadership, capable leadership,” Romney said, noting that extraordinary leaders are making their mark in corporate America and in religious institutions, but that, “politically, I think we’re coming up a little short, not so much in the states as it is at the federal level.”

The Risks We’re Not Addressing

When asked what leaders should be paying more attention to, Romney returned to AI – but with a warning that what concerns him most is the lack of coordinated oversight and the absence of international cooperation.

“When we were working on the nuclear weapon, we had all of the technologists in one place, making sure the technology didn’t escape,” he said. “With regards to AI, it’s going on entirely in the private sector… run like cowboy capitalism.”

Why the Private Sector Matters Most

Romney, who built his business career at Bain Capital, made a point that resonated strongly with the audience of commercial real estate leaders.

“What you do is harder than what Washington does,” he said, acknowledging the real risks associated with commercial real estate development. “If you mess up, you’ll lose your money, your job, and maybe the jobs of a lot of people.”

He contrasted that with government accountability and underscored the importance of economic strength.

“The reason we [the U.S.] have dominated the world is not because of the brilliance of our representatives. It’s because of the extraordinary strength of our economic engine.”

“I used to think that if a company had a really good strategy, they would be successful,” he said, “And [if they have] a bad game plan, a bad strategy, they’re not going to succeed.”

“The biggest surprise to me, the biggest lesson learned through my private sector career and public sector career, is the impact of a leader,” he said.