This joint report by LinkedIn and the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) delves into the latest leadership trends in Singapore, leveraging LinkedIn’s Economic Graph and SIM’s deep expertise in Singapore’s learning landscape. Together, LinkedIn and SIM provide data-driven insights into how leadership is evolving in a rapidly changing world of work and offer strategies to develop the next generation of business leaders.
As the nature of work continues to transform, so too must the pathway to effective leadership. By combining global workforce intelligence with local educational expertise, this report aims to empower individuals and organisations to adapt, lead, and succeed in an ever-evolving world.
For this analysis, we focused on senior leaders (VP or C-Suite) at large companies (more than 1,000 employees). Our research shows that the traditional linear career progressions are being reshaped by demand for broader, more versatile experiences – over the past five years, senior leaders are more likely to have worked across diverse industries, functions, and companies compared to their predecessors. This report also explores emerging trends in leadership behaviour, such as building a strong digital presence, emphasising soft skills, and fostering expansive networks, to thrive in an increasingly complex work environment.
Using these insights, we are able to not only understand the career pathways and trends of current leaders, but also provide data-driven recommendations for aspiring leaders of the next generation.
Key Insights
- Leadership roles are increasingly requiring diverse experiences across industries, functions and companies.
- Soft skills like communication, strategic thinking, and resilience have become essential for effective leadership.
- Modern leaders are building expansive networks and engaging actively on social media, often sharing updates, gratitude, and recognition.
- Women make up only 37% of senior leadership roles in large companies in Singapore.
