The world of leadership is shifting, and fast. According to the latest Digital Leadership Report 2025 from Harvey Nash UK, organisations across the UK are embracing change at speed, driven by AI, skills shortages, cybersecurity threats and evolving ways of working.
Now in its 26th year, the report is based on the views of thousands of senior leaders globally, and offers a valuable snapshot of what’s shaping leadership in the digital age. This year marks a tipping point for artificial intelligence. What was once experimental is now embedded. Nearly half of digital leaders surveyed said AI is already in active use across their organisations, supporting everything from customer service to strategic decision-making.
AI may be accelerating, but the people who know how to work with it are in short supply. For the first time in more than 15 years, AI skills have overtaken cybersecurity as the most in-demand technical expertise – and the shortage is growing. Leaders are feeling the pressure. Many are rethinking how they recruit, retain and reskill their people. It’s a reminder that talent strategy is leadership strategy. The organisations that succeed in the years ahead will be those that invest in their people – not just hiring for the skills of today, but helping teams grow into the needs of tomorrow.
Leadership takeaway
For leaders, critical questions are raised not just about how to use AI, but why and where. AI is no longer an innovation to observe from the sidelines. It’s here, it’s real, and it’s fast becoming central to how organisations operate. The challenge now is to lead with clarity and ethics: ensuring human oversight, transparent decision-making and a firm grip on how AI intersects with your values and mission. Leaders who adapt, invest in people and think boldly about technology will be best placed to thrive. Find out more at harveynash.co.uk/latest-news/digital-leadership-report-2025
• Almost twice as many technology leaders (51%) compared with the previous report (28%) say they are suffering an AI skills shortage.
• Organisations that attract, retain and incorporate the viewpoints of Gen Z are twice as likely to be prepared for the demands of AI and one-fifth more likely to report a measurable ROI from AI.
• In the past two years, 29% of tech leaders were subjected to a major cyberattack.
• Around one-fifth of a tech team could be considered neurodivergent, and nearly half of leaders (47%) have practices in place to support neurodivergent talent.
• Just 23% of tech team members are women – the same as two years ago. Women in tech leadership has dropped from 14% to 13% since the last report.
Source: Digital Leadership Report 2025
This item is adapted from an Update first published in the summer 2025 issue of Edge