As we step into the new year, I have been reflecting on how the role of a CEO has evolved. For many years, I saw the CEO’s job as setting direction and giving people confidence about the future. That is still true. But looking ahead to 2026, I believe it is no longer enough. Leaders must also actively make change happen. They need to understand technology well enough to turn ideas into action and uncertainty into strength.

Through my work across different industries and regions, I have seen how quickly technology has moved from the side to the centre of business. AI, automation and data-driven decisions are no longer limited to innovation teams. They are now central to how companies operate, compete and grow.

From vision to execution

Leadership is not only vision anymore. CEOs must connect strategy, technology and people to get real results. The best leaders focus on what works, not on every new trend. They ask: Where can technology make work easier? Where can it improve decisions? Where can it make business stronger in uncertain times? Investments are made carefully, with clear responsibility, not big digital programmes that do not deliver.

Boards and CEOs do not need to be engineers. But they must understand what technology can do, what risk it brings and how it creates value. In 2026, understanding technology is as important as understanding money.

Learning from the world

People often ask which country is best in AI, but there is no one answer:

• US and China lead in research and big AI infrastructure.
• UAE and Singapore show how to use AI in real business and government.
• India is growing fast in AI skills and adoption.

Closer to home, we are seeing encouraging and practical progress:

• In Azerbaijan, companies use AI to improve supply chains, energy and logistics. Startups in finance and retail use automation to make payments faster and more transparent.
• In the UAE, businesses use AI in smart cities, customer service and government. The focus is not technology alone. It is about clear purpose and results – efficiency, better decisions and better service.

What this means for CEOs in 2026 is that leading with technology is about finding the right balance between vision, ambition, innovation and reality. The leaders I have seen succeed are those who treat technology as a management tool, not a separate function. They invest in skills, build understanding across the company and make the tough decisions about where technology truly adds value, and where it does not.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, disruption is not going to slow down. But from my experience, disruption does not have to be destabilising. Leaders who combine a clear vision with practical technology adoption can turn it into a real source of strength. I see a real opportunity to build organisations that are smarter, more resilient and better prepared for uncertainty. In my view, the CEOs who stay grounded, focused and execution-oriented will be the ones who turn technology into a lasting advantage.