To gauge the potential impact over the medium term, we conducted a survey of senior leaders this fall to shed light on how their current- and post-pandemic outlook is testing, and even changing, their approach to leading. We sought to better understand the critical skills and attributes for individual leaders, and for their broader organisational cultures, to thrive in a “distance-as-usual” context.

On 28 October, we will host a virtual session to examine the results of our survey and the implications for businesses in the region. Rather than just focusing on challenges, we will also explore the opportunities created by new ways of working, and examine the lessons companies have learned that can help others who seek to make sense of the uncertain environment ahead. Following the presentation of our survey results, our panel of leadership experts will help us unpack the most valuable lessons that businesses can use going forward. In particular, we will explore

• – the challenges of having a workforce made up of those who can work remotely and those who cannot
• – opportunities for greater workforce diversity that a remote style offers
• – questions around key leadership functions such as inclusion, performance management, and career development
• – examples from sectors with a long history of leading from a distance – what works, and what doesn’t