We are surrounded by technology, and everyday that technology evolves, changes, and impacts the way in which we live and do business. Technological leadership is one of the most prominent ways of leading from the top, where the Chief Executive, Founder, or highest senior ranking member of the business doesn’t just promote the use of technology, but also has a hand in creating it or an involvement in its development.
Some of the most obvious examples of technological leaders would include:
- Bill Gates
- Elon Musk
- Meredith Whittaker
- Steve Jobs
- Antonio Neri
- Satya Nadella
These individuals are renowned not only for their positions and roles in their respective companies, but for the innovations and actions they have taken to promote the development and advancement of technologies in their industries.
Why be a Technological Leader?
Did you know that only 10% of people are considered to be ‘natural’ leaders, and more than 77% of organisations report that their leadership is lacking?
These aren’t great numbers, no matter how you look at it – especially when you consider that 83% of businesses believe it’s important to develop leaders at every level of the company, and 86% of people expect business leaders to lead them on societal problems that affect them, more than public leaders.
Businesses expect good leadership, customers and investors expect good leadership, and investors expect good leadership – this much is fact.
Now combine this with the advancements in digital transformation, with the market growing to an expected $1,009.8 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 16.5%, and the investment in that transformation expecting to double from $1.8 trillion in 2022 to $2.8 trillion in 2025.
Digital transformation and the use of technology is the way forward for businesses almost regardless of industry. New innovations and technology is changing the way the world works, how we connect, how we shop, and who we look at for our business needs.
Technological Leaders, for better or worse, stand out from other companies, not only in their own industry – but generally on a global platform, because they are pushing innovation, or making change, or doing something that doesn’t just impact their own business. This makes them significant to the world stage, and because of what they’re doing, their companies are also raised to higher visibility.
What Does a Technological Leader Do?
There isn’t a huge difference in action for the Technological Leader, when compared to an active Business Leader – they are expected to model the behaviours they want to see from their company and teams, inspire the people who work for them (and who might want to work for them), and promote innovation through opportunities and active approaches.
The only real difference here is the focus on technology for solutions, and reaching new heights with driving innovation, rather than waiting for it to become available on the market through someone else’s work.