Rethinking Leadership Narratives for a Data-Driven Age

What makes a great leader, and does the data actually support it? In this course, you'll critically examine the leadership narratives that have shaped organisations from Ancient Greece to the modern digital age, and discover why data-driven research challenges many of the assumptions we've long taken for granted. With 88% of C-suite executives believing data insights are crucial for maintaining competitive advantage and strategic decision-making (IBM Institute for Business Value, 2025), and 80% of Business Intelligence and Data Analytics teams now viewing advanced data skills as essential to their core functions (TDWI, 2025), the ability to evaluate leadership through a data-driven lens has never been more valuable. You'll evaluate traditional and scientific leadership models, analyse how agile structures differ from hierarchical ones, and assess the role of collective decision-making in data-rich environments. By the end of the course, you'll be able to identify whether a leadership narrative helps or hinders effectiveness in today's organisations, and articulate why that distinction matters. This course is suitable for current or aspiring leaders, managers, and professionals working in or alongside data-driven environments. No prior knowledge of leadership theory is required. References: Source: Research.com. (2026). 2026 current leadership training trends: Data, analysis & insights. https://research.com/careers/leadership-training-trends