Navigating digital disruption through enhanced leadership

Navigating digital disruption through enhanced leadership

Discover how to lead in the age of digital disruption through this popular elective course. Gain practical insights and real-world examples to navigate modern leadership challenges and discover how to seize opportunities in today's ever-changing business landscape.

What does it mean to lead in today’s industry, especially considering the upheaval caused by advancements in technology? Students in both of RMIT Vietnam’s Master of Business Administration and the Master of International Business programs can gain valuable insights to this modern issue through the Leading in the Age of Digital Disruption elective, currently being taught by Dr. Gavin Nicholson. 

Digital disruption occurs at three levels – the government, business and society, and how a leader navigates any upheaval depends on many factors, up to and including what the business is, its size and function, and where it is based. As Dr. Nicholson notes, many leadership theories come from the global West, and often do not directly apply to contemporary issues in Asia. Thus, based on his experience working in China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, Dr. Nicholson states that he tries to make any theory relevant to the students' day-to-day realities. If done otherwise, he notes that “it's like trying to hang a coat on a wall with no hook. Students need something tangible to apply theory to.”

Dr. Nicholson presents a number of examples of leadership to the class, such as Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister who led Singapore to becoming the most-prosperous country in Southeast Asia during his rule, as well as Nguyen Van Linh, the General Secretary who undersaw Vietnam’s economic reforms that began at the end of 1986, commonly referred to as Doi Moi.  “I use leaders, such as these, to talk about their visions for the future,” Dr. Nicholson says. “And I talk a lot about Vietnam’s progression since Doi Moi. But I make sure to open the floor to the class, since many students are already in management, and I want them to talk about the issues they are having in their workplace. It’s a great exercise to try and work out these real-world challenges right in the classroom.”

two postgrad students

Dr. Nicholson takes care to introduce his students to “ways of leadership that they didn't even know about, breaking the knowledge down into a personal-type view, so each student can understand or discover what kind of leader they are.” In a way, this can be described as simply helping each student understand themselves better. Students also gain leadership insights through watching TED talks and listening to guest speaker visits.

Dr. Nicholson admits he will also put students on the spot and ask them directly questions, such as “can you take over your family business. Can you be as good as your dad or your mom? How will you be different?” This direct communication carries a purpose.  Dr Nicholson states that “today’s younger leaders will be responsible for maintaining Vietnam’s economy.  Digital disruption is now just a part of the business process. Look at retail – it's dead, but on the other hand, look at the success of Shopee.  So where do the opportunities lie and how will you lead your team, your organisation and yourself when these opportunities present themselves? It's the opportunities we have in life who makes us who we are.”

Are you looking for new opportunities and feel the need to upskill your own leadership abilities? Visit RMIT’s postgraduate business degree webpage and discover more. 

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