Thomas Cowan

Leading in the Digital Age Thomas Cowan

You are likely a CEO, or maybe a CIO, CTO, CFO, or other C-Suite leader. You may be on a Board of Directors. You may be a divisional or functional leader, manager, or supervisor. Regardless of where you sit, you need to deal with the emerging technologies in your job on a daily basis - and not just the technologies themselves, but also the societal, organizational, and ethical issues surrounding them. I've been in your position, as a CEO who has built companies, a Board member for technology start-ups, and a manager trying to run a business in the face of the disruption and transformation that technology can create. Now, at Columbia University's Center for Technology Management, I work with leaders to develop and implement the decisions, plans, and strategies related to technology and the complications of that environment. I've been thinking deeply about leadership in an age of rapid technological change and its accompanying disruption, and want to share my thinking with you. This short book presents an overview of my current thinking about the environment we are living in and the challenges, opportunities, and risks we face. I want to illuminate the situation and lay the groundwork for you as you think through your strategies, plans, and execution. This is an exciting time for the CEO, entrepreneur, and technologist. My job is to help you navigate these murky but exciting waters.