With the increasing impact of disruptive technologies, rapidly changing competitive environments, and a growing maturity and integration of digital into ‘business as usual’, organisational leadership itself needs to adapt to a brave new business world.

Are we seeing the emergence of a new type of leader that brings together a powerful combination of skills to adeptly navigate the rapidly evolving and shifting technological landscape?

The Effective Leadership in the Digital Age research set out to answer one key question: what does it mean to be a ‘digital leader’ in the context of digital transformation?

Written by experienced blogger, writer and consultant Neil Perkin, the report aims to distil some of the key shifts in leadership qualities, attributes and techniques, providing a multidimensional framework for effective digital leadership.

This report is an update to Econsultancy’s 2015 report and has been informed by new quantitative and qualitative interviews. Econsultancy would like to thank the following senior leaders, consultants and experts for their contributions to this report:

  • Eva Appelbaum, Co-Founder and Partner, Arc
  • Louise Howells, Global Head of Leadership Development, TUI
  • Paul Jocelyn, Director, Paul Jocelyn Consulting; former Head of Marketing Capability, Tesco
  • Ritchie Mehta, CEO, School of Marketing
  • Fran Pestana, Leadership and Talent Development, E.ON
  • Daniel Rowles, Author, Digital Culture, Founding Digital Leadership Programme
  • Jane Sendall, VP, Learning and Organisation Development, EMEA and Asia Pacific at Warner Bros
  • Alastair Thomson, Portfolio Finance Director