Redefining Leadership in Modern Asia

Asian business leadership is in a state of transformation due to the increased economic performance, technological developments and changing culture. In the past, management in Asia was more autocratic, where power rested in the hands of the top executives of companies and organizations. However, the current evolution is characterized by the shift towards more open and flexible leadership that is concerned with the involvement of people and being able to adapt to change. Among the causes for such change is the enhanced globalization of the region and the consequent integration into the world economy. Today’s Asian leaders need to manage the global markets, lead multicultural employees, and track the trends around the world. This has led to the adoption of more universal leadership practices which put more emphasis on employees’ enablement.

Also, the increased adoption of digital solutions in organizations across Asia has made leaders adopt technology-enabled solutions. Managers are now supposed to be technologically savvy, specifically, on how the IT tools such as AI, big data, and automation could be deployed to the advantage of an organization. It is also a shift that is enabling young and dynamic leaders who are in tune with technological advancement to take leadership roles thus changing leadership paradigms. On the cultural perspective, there is a shift towards diversity and inclusion particularly in Asian leadership. With firms growing and competing in various markets, managers are beginning to appreciate the importance of diversity and are thus trying to increase the diversity in their organizations.

It is with the view of staying updated with the emerging trends in the region’s business landscape that Asia Business Outlook has come up with a special issue containing stories of leaders who have demonstrated their capability through their expertise. To strengthen this region’s business landscape with their tightly-knit and result-oriented approach, they are setting new standards of effectiveness.

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