- Although AI is the top technology priority in Southeast Asia, second only to cybersecurity according to Egon Zehnder’s 2025 CIO survey, the majority of AI projects still fail to generate real business value. Many businesses mistakenly believe the cause lies in technology or individual capabilities, but in reality, it’s a strategic leadership issue.
- Organizations often entrust AI responsibilities to technical leaders (CIOs, CTOs, Chief Data/AI Officers), prioritizing specialized skills over business acumen. This results in strategic misalignment, projects lacking scalability, and costly but ineffective investments.
- The study identifies three types of AI leaders:
- The Shaper – a visionary who defines the AI strategy and direction at the board level.
- The Builder – a technical expert who develops breakthrough AI models, often from data science, mathematics, or engineering backgrounds.
- The Transformer – a business integrator who connects technological potential with practical results, turning ideas into enterprise value. This is a crucial role in every AI transformation journey.
- In Southeast Asia, Transformers need to adapt flexibly to the context:
- In family businesses, they balance tradition and innovation.
- In government-linked companies (GLCs), they navigate between public responsibility and national goals.
- In multi-industry corporations, they act as “AI strategic architects,” connecting units and sharing knowledge.
- Key competencies of a Transformer include:
- Leading change, encouraging experimentation and learning.
- Cross-functional collaboration, breaking down silos between technical and business teams.
- Understanding customers through AI, focusing on practical value rather than technical showmanship.
- Talent development, building a successor team with AI capabilities and a spirit of continuous learning.
- 70% of Asian technology leaders state that the implementation of AI/generative AI has become more urgent in the past 18 months, and 80% admit needing stronger support in training and upskilling.
📌 Costly mistakes in AI transformation: When businesses choose engineers over business-savvy leaders. To succeed, organizations need to foster a team of “Transformers” – leaders who understand both technology and business, thereby creating a sustainable culture of innovation and maximizing the benefits of AI across the entire enterprise.
