Dr. Ramya Chatterjee | Chief of Solitaire Brand Business | CEO & Director of Prointek Global Innovations (Manufacturing division of Supertron Electronics) on the ability to understand and embrace AI to determine how effectively their organisations can leverage its potential.
In times marked by swift digital transformation, leaders across the world are finding themselves at a critical crossroads. Their ability to understand, embrace and steer the integration of AI is determining how effectively their organisations can leverage its potential, boost efficiency and create longstanding value.
Given that AI is already set to change the face of industries, and more so the nature of work itself, leadership should not merely be dependent on vision; it is increasingly being measured by digital fluency, adaptability, and ethical foresight. The emergence of AI, predictive analytics and automation has thus far shattered the boundaries between human insight and technology. Consequently, this development is compelling leaders to reconsider how they take decisions, lead innovation, and inspire their workforce. In such a setting, the real question is: Are current leaders geared up to facilitate this transformation responsibly and effectively?
Changing Expectations from Leadership
The traditional paradigm of leadership, based on years of experience and intuition, is actively being rewritten. At present, leaders are not only seen as custodians of experience; they are expected to become interpreters of data and architects of intelligent ecosystems.
An EY India report states that generative AI will boost productivity in India’s IT industry by up to 45% over the next five years. Akin to this, AI-driven automation is likely to drive operational growth of nearly 46% in the banking sector, while 71% of Indian retailers plan to implement generative AI this year. These statistics showcase that AI is not a distant innovation, rather it is quickly becoming a notable operational force.
Nonetheless, the ability to incorporate AI successfully mainly depends on a leader’s capacity to rethink business strategies. It is not enough to simply adopt AI; leaders need to embed it into the very DNA of organisations. India’s AI market is set to triple to $17 billion by 2027, while it accounts for 16% of the global AI talent pool. To indeed push this momentum, leadership of today must be technologically literate and ethically grounded at the same time.
Shift from Experience to Expertise
In the AI age, true leadership means the ability to learn, unlearn and relearn. Such a fundamental shift from experience-based decision-making to data-driven leadership requires C-suite leaders to be familiar with AI tools and frameworks. Mastery in this domain does not imply coding experience but the strategic acumen to discern where AI can create the most value, whether in personalised customer engagement, risk modelling or predictive analytics. Moreover, the journey from awareness to expertise starts with consistent learning. Executive courses and AI certifications can help leaders grasp basic principles such as ethical AI and human-AI collaboration.
As per Deloitte’s 2024 Global Human Capital Trends report, 73% of respondents believe it is essential to ensure human imagination keeps pace with technological innovation, while just 9% of organisations are making meaningful progress toward achieving that balance. This emphasises that effective AI leadership requires a commitment to nurturing human creativity and capabilities as well.
Catalysts of the AI Revolution
While the spotlight often rests on the C-suite, midlevel leaders can also be the linchpins of AI adoption. Positioned aptly amid strategy and execution, they can translate extraordinary visions into actionable initiatives. Yet, research by MIT Sloan Management Review and Cognizant highlights a persistent gap: although 82% of respondents say their organisations need digitally savvy leaders, only 40% believe their companies are building robust leadership pipelines to meet that need. It underlines how much untapped potential exists within midlevel leadership to drive digital and AI transformation.
Subsequently, empowering this layer of leadership is of utmost importance. They have the ability to play a twin role of supporting teams to upskill as well as building trust in AI’s potential. By embedding AI tools into daily workflows and experimenting with small-scale projects, midlevel leaders can discover innovative applications that senior management may otherwise overlook. Organisations that nurture this cohort in times to come would find themselves better equipped to scale up AI initiatives for the longer term.
On Ethics, Governance, and Trust
As AI becomes ever more dominant, leadership will also need to consider ethical usage. The lack of strong governance frameworks may expose organisations to risks, bias, and reputational crises. While 83% of Indian firms have appointed Chief AI Officers, many continue to lack appropriate policies on responsible AI use. Leaders must therefore ensure that governance is not an afterthought but a foundation stone. Transparent data practices, algorithmic accountability, and ethical oversight should accompany every deployment. Trust, above all, is the currency of sustainable innovation.
Leading with Vision
The real test of leadership in the AI age is in foresight, which implies the ability to predict disruption. Successful leaders will leverage AI to rethink business models completely. They will use insights to tap into newer markets, anticipate customer trends, and pivot quickly when circumstances shift. In essence, they will lead proactively, not reactively.
In Sum
As AI is already redefining the boundaries of business and innovation, leadership too should evolve from command to collaboration. The leaders of tomorrow must deep dive to understand AI tools, in order to guide their organisations with intelligence, empathy, and conviction.
In today’s day and age, technology may be the engine of progress, but leadership ought to be the compass. Those who can pair foresight with data intelligence will not only thrive but also lead the AI revolution.