Leadership, Will, and Mindset

In a book on cloud computing, you might find it unusual to encounter an entire chapter dedicated to leadership, will, and mindset. As technology continues to evolve exponentially, enterprises often find themselves in a dilemma; some fall behind the innovation curve due to fear of failure, whereas others start chasing every new trend. This is a direct reflection of the lack of vision and leadership. Before we dive deeper into the world of cloud computing, the purpose of this chapter is to recognize the crucial role of leadership, will, and mindset for a successful digital transformation.

In today’s digital world, an organization’s business agility to react to market demands is directly proportional to its digital maturity and capability. In modern enterprise architecture parlance, IT has evolved into a core pillar of business innovation from just being a traditional cost center. At the heart of every successful digital transformation, leadership, will, and mindset are indispensable. Strong visionary leaders set the vision and strategic direction, shape an organizational culture for innovation, and advocate for enterprise digital transformation to tap into an organization’s full potential for growth and competitiveness.

Digital transformation has become a critical factor in the rapidly evolving technology landscape to drive innovation. It is not merely an option or a trend; rather, it has become a necessity for enterprises to survive, thrive, and remain competitive. Digital transformation involves the integration of digital technologies into all aspects of an organization, fundamentally changing how it operates and delivers value to customers. However, successful digital transformation requires more than just adopting new technologies. The one common attribute among all successful organizations is their ability to innovate and create value for their consumers. Why are some organizations more successful than others, where innovation is almost always natural and does not require external motivation? The answer lies in strong leadership, will, and mindset that can guide, inspire, and cultivate a sustainable culture of innovation. Innovative leaders unleash digital transformation in enterprises by developing a clear vision, fostering an environment for experimentation, promoting customer centricity, and empowering teams to collaborate. In this chapter, we will explore the crucial role of leadership, will, and mindset in setting the pace and tone for an enterprise’s digital transformation. We will also delve into the following:

• How innovation is NOT just a choice for enterprises in the modern age to sustain and thrive in a competitive landscape
• The exponential evolution of digital trends across various industries
• Establishing a process for innovation through the innovation continuum
• The tale of two enterprises – Kodak and Fujifilm and how leadership, will, and mindset shaped their destiny
• How can enterprise leaders lead a strategic and sustainable digital transformation?

Let’s try to understand why innovation is not a choice but a necessity through the following case study.