Digital Leaders Week

Written by Robin Knowles, Founder and CEO, Digital Leaders

If you follow and take part in Digital Leaders you already agree that Digital Transformation is essential for the future of the UK economy and especially crucial outside of a changed relationship with our European neighbours, and in the context of a changing trading relationship with the rest of the world.

The lynch pin of this new world will be the quality of the nation’s Digital Leadership and how these leaders drive outcomes inside government, enterprise, SMEs and, of course, within the third sector.

This weeks report on Digital Enterprise from the Economist Intelligence Unit identifies that in their opinion just 8% of their C-Suite survey respondents were “digital leaders” — leading enterprises that are entirely digital across all major functions. But they also found that these 8% were outperforming the competition regardless of size, industry or geographic location.

Digital Leaders know that unless they were born after 1990, they are likely to be a ‘digital immigrant’ – someone whose ability to use a smartphone, tablet and interact via social media networks, does not come as naturally as it does for ‘digital natives’. As with any immigrant in a foreign culture, there are new languages, attitudes and mind-sets that must be learned.

So what’s to be done?…

Digital Leaders Week 19-23 June 2017 is here to enable the leaders of today to become the leaders for a new Digital Industrial Age. This week will raise awareness of the opportunities in place to support leadership and to support transformation across the UK by leveraging innovation, skills and experience from across the tech sector, and from across the country, with a particular focus on our 11 DL Local regions outside of London.

Over 40 events in our inaugural year across Britain will offer leaders access to best practice, allow them to build stronger networks and provide a better understanding of the need to adopt new thinking and embrace innovation.

Hear first-hand the stories that will inspire digital change through people, outcomes and personal accountability. After all #LeadershipMatters!

We will be sending out a clarion call to kick-start the week at the London Stock Exchange on the morning of Monday 19 June, by ringing the Opening Trading Bell at 8am to serve as a reminder of the journey from the previous industrial age into our new digital economy era.

Joining us for the launch will be 100 senior executive guests representing the organisations taking part in Digital Leaders Week; from Government, Charities and over 50 CEOs from leading UK digital businesses. #DigitalLeaders

So, I urge you take part at an event near you. There are too many highlights to choose from, but personally I shall be in Leeds for the DL Annual Lecture on Monday evening, hearing about AI; before moving across to Manchester with DLNW discussing UX and CX; and in Newcastle with DLNE to talk about Digital Culture and next year’s Great Exhibition of the North. Then returning to London for the 12th National Digital Conference and a personal favourite, the DL100 Awards – have you voted yet? 

I look forward to hearing what you did and if you are desk bound for the week we have daily online Webinars, Live streaming and DLTV shows to include you.

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