Who Will Lead in the Future?
West Monroe
We partner with clients across all aspects of their business to progress toward new digital ways of working. #BeDigital
No, not that leadership. But stay with us. While an unprecedented Presidential Election is making headlines everywhere, we’re also interested in what the future of leadership looks like for organizations.
The explosion of new technology being introduced at such a rapid pace, combined with more Americans expected to turn 65 in the next 3 years than at any point in history, got us thinking: How does the younger generation feel about the future of the C-suite? As part of our new Next to Lead newsletter with Fortune , we polled 1,000 working professionals about which C-suite positions will gain the most importance in the next five years.
The top answers? Chief AI Officer (40%) and Chief Data Officer (11%). Color us…not surprised. AI is changing every aspect of business, but its adoption, deployment, and use can’t be taken for granted and may require a dedicated C-suite member to make the most of these game-changing tools.
Whatever type of new leadership that organizations delegate will need to be diligent about implementing and governing it effectively . Our advice? Building success is rooted in the fundamentals:
GenAI is a game-changer, but it’s not a catch-all. The future holds great promise for those who intersect technology and humanity. That blend is what our new president Gil Mermelstein alluded to in a recent Q&A , noting that “the companies that will come out on top [in the future] will master both the people side and the technology side of their businesses.” Those organizations will be at the forefront of innovation and growth at a time when tech advancements like AI are accelerating the rate of change in the business world. As always, humans are the true catalysts for ROI when it comes to digital transformation.
We’re also seeing rapid tech developments in the future of specific industries that will impact leadership.
Banking: Generative AI, which is being prioritized by 63% of financial services companies over other digital tech initiatives, is becoming crucial for investment. We present use cases to help leaders leverage GenAI for greater efficiency in every department.
Energy & Utilities: As utilities aim for decarbonization, leaders will need to modernize operations for efficiency, resilience, and customer engagement. We present demos, case studies, and benefits for both utilities and customers.
Manufacturing: Manufacturers are enhancing the employee experience, embracing flexible ecommerce, leveraging AI for R&D, and optimizing operations with smart analytics. We explore real-life examples and potential benefits for leaders in each department of industry.
The pace of change is relentless, bringing the future into clear view for all organizations. The surge in Generative AI, shifting consumer expectations, and the wealth of data have made the future seem more imminent than ever before for the next generation of leaders. Organizations that stay ahead of tech advancements and embrace the human-technology blend will lead the way in the next wave of business evolution.
Leader | Data Scientist | Software Engineer | Lawyer | Veteran
4 个月Who will lead is the same now as it has always been: those who are willing to take risks and inspire those around them; in politics, in industry, in battle - it has always been the same. There will be plenty of managers who can build a process for a technology adoption or a process for personnel management. Not to denigrate the importance of management - things can go off the rails quiet quickly, but management is about mitigating risks while leadership is about embracing it.