EXPERT COLUMN

Ben Leitch – Digital Content Manager

If 2025 taught us anything, it is that leadership in technology is no longer about managing systems – it is about managing uncertainty. From AI disruption to regulatory upheaval, IT leaders found themselves at the centre of boardroom debates, geopolitical tensions and cultural shifts. As we move into 2026, the role of the digital leader is not simply to deliver technology, but to shape resilience and trust in a digital-first world.

AI disruption

Artificial Intelligence dominated 2025. Generative AI transformed workflows, accelerated innovation and created new business models. Yet it also introduced ethical dilemmas, security risks and workforce anxieties. Leaders were forced to balance opportunity with caution, often under intense scrutiny from boards and regulators. Leadership is not about blindly adopting AI, but about setting a vision that integrates governance, transparency and human-centred design.

Cybersecurity as a boardlevel crisis

The year was marked by high-profile breaches, from local government councils in London to global enterprises, reminding leaders that cybersecurity is no longer a technical silo – it is a strategic risk. Boards demanded accountability, regulators tightened obligations and customers questioned trust. For IT leaders, the challenge was not just defending systems but communicating risk in language that boards and stakeholders could understand.

In 2026, leaders must embed cyberresilience into every strategic decision, not

treat it as an afterthought.

The talent paradox

2025 was also the year of the talent paradox. On one hand, AI and automation reduced demand for certain roles; on the other, the need for digital skills, cyber expertise and ethical oversight skyrocketed. Leaders faced the dual challenge of reskilling existing staff while attracting scarce talent in a competitive market. Culture became a differentiator: organisations that invested in wellbeing, flexibility and purpose retained talent more effectively. In 2026, IT leaders must recognise that technology strategy is inseparable from people strategy.

The geopolitical dimension

Technology leadership was pulled into geopolitics in 2025, with supply chain disruptions, sanctions and cyber warfare shaping the digital landscape. Leaders had to think beyond efficiency and cost, considering resilience, sovereignty and ethical sourcing. IT leadership is now geopolitical leadership – decisions about vendors, data centres and partnerships carry global implications.

Looking ahead to 2026, several imperatives stand out:

• Set a clear AI vision: Move beyond experimentation to define how AI supports strategy, ethics and trust

• Embed resilience: Treat cybersecurity, supply chains and compliance as core pillars of leadership

• Invest in people: Prioritise reskilling, wellbeing and culture as much as technology

• Communicate with clarity: Translate technical risk into strategic language for boards and stakeholders

• Think geopolitically: Recognise that IT decisions are global decisions, with reputational and ethical weight

2025 was a year of turbulence, but it clarified the stakes. IT leaders are no longer guardians of infrastructure – they are architects of trust, resilience and innovation. In 2026, the winners will be those who lead not just with technical expertise, but with vision, courage and humanity. x

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