Digital adoption, cybersecurity top challenges for Mideast firms: report

Nearly 66 percent of senior executives in the Middle East believe digital adoption and cybersecurity are their biggest business challenges, according to a new survey.

The “Pulse Report” commissioned by Headspring, the executive development joint venture of the Financial Times and IE Business School, found concerns around digital adoption and cybersecurity had increased significantly in the past two years.

Although growing leaders is not among the top priority for Middle Eastern senior professionals, they do expect their executive education programs to deliver results. Expected internal outcomes of such program include individuals gaining skills to lead and manage teams (54 percent of respondents citing it as a top concern) and improved employee engagement scores (62 percent).

With the future in mind, three in five Middle Eastern business leaders agreed that new ways of thinking and problem solving are encouraged in their organization (62 percent). In addition, 57 percent said they are well-prepared to adapt to new technologies.

However, the topmost priorities for Middle Eastern business leaders when it comes to executive education needs are cultural change (59 percent), creating a culture of innovation (55 percent) and adopting new technologies (55 percent).

These, along with the issues of talent management and helping employees advance their careers in order to drive growth, are as pressing as ever, especially considering that 78 percent of respondents admitted that executive education is vital to achieving business goals.