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The demand for AI skills is outpacing supply at an extraordinary rate. According to the latest Nash Squared/Harvey Nash Digital Leadership Report, 51% of global tech leaders now say their organisation has an AI skills shortage, almost double the 28% reported just a year ago. AI has leapt from sixth to the number one most-scarce skill in just 18 months, marking the steepest rise seen in over 15 years of research. Featured in a recent ZDNet article, Nash Squared CIO Ankur Anand , offers timely insight into why the gap has grown so significantly, and what organisations can do to address it. He points to the speed of innovation as a key factor: “There’s an unprecedented pace of development in generative AI and the supporting large language models… Professionals must learn new skills quickly, and traditional learning methods can’t keep pace.” The article explores how forward-thinking leaders are adapting, from rethinking recruitment to embedding continuous learning, and ensuring their organisations can attract and retain the right blend of AI expertise and ethical awareness. You can read the full ZDNet article, including Ankur Anand’s insights and reflections on the fast-moving AI skills landscape, here.

Harvey Nash’s Helen Fleming, Executive Director, and Peter Birch, Director of Technology and Digital Executive Search recently featured in a Computing article exploring why some technology leaders are receiving inflation-busting salary increases, and what sets them apart. Drawing on the latest insights from the 2025 Harvey Nash Digital Leadership Report, the article reveals that over half of technology leaders globally received a pay rise last year, with 11% securing an uplift of over 10%. The data points to a clear pattern, the most rewarded leaders are working in businesses where technology is seen as a growth engine, not just a cost centre. These organisations are more likely to be investing in AI at scale, expanding their tech teams, and backed by leaders who view technology as a strategic enabler. Helen and Peter share advice for tech leaders looking to improve their earning potential - from aligning with forward-thinking, tech-driven organisations to choosing sectors with stronger demand and budgets for senior digital talent, such as financial services, healthcare, and defense. To find out how the most successful leaders are shaping their careers – and their compensation – read the full article in Computing.

Lessons in Leadership: What schools can teach the tech industry David returns to his old school, Bedlington Academy, for a powerful conversation with Deputy Head Simon Collins. On the surface, it’s a story about education. But listen closely and it’s a story every business leader needs to hear. Simon reveals how modern schools are navigating AI, digital literacy, and real-world career paths—while building resilience, independence, and ambition in communities too often overlooked. From AI in the classroom to unlocking aspiration in post-industrial towns, this isn’t just a lesson in pedagogy—it’s a call to industry to meet education halfway. Education and tech have more in common than you’d think—fast-moving environments, shifting expectations, and a duty to prepare people for the future. In this episode, Simon Collins unpacks how schools like Bedlington Academy are embracing AI, personal development, and creativity to prepare students for careers that didn’t exist a decade ago. He’s clear: the tech world needs to show up, not just with advice—but with collaboration, empathy, and opportunity. Tech Talks Podcast  Tech Talks is a podcast that probes the minds of tech leaders, hosted by Technology Evangelist David Savage. Each week, the show releases three episodes with new guests, covering the latest tech news, exploring new products and cultural transformations that drive the tech industry. Founded in 2015 Tech Talks has published over 650 episodes and attracts over 18,500 streams a month from a global audience. The podcast offers insights and ideas from leading technologists on culture, innovation, finance, growth, sustainability, and more, providing a platform for the c-suite, founders, and senior figures to hear from others facing similar challenges and tap into a wider community. Find out more about Tech Talks here.

On 18th June 2025, we gathered with an amazing group of tech and business leaders on our London rooftop to celebrate the launch of the Nash Squared / Harvey Nash Digital Leadership Report 2025. This event marked the 26th year of this incredible study, which delves into the state of digital leadership like no other.  With data gathered from 2,015 digital leaders across 62 countries, the report captures the shifting priorities, technologies, risks and realities shaping tech strategy today.  Moderated by Nash Squared’s Tech Evangelist, David Savage, the evening’s panel featured four diverse, thought-provoking, and highly respected voices in tech and transformation:  Helena Nimmo, Global CIO at IFS  Nimisha Patel, CIO at Mishcon de Reya LLP and Non-Executive Director at West Brom Building Society  John Finch, Technology & Operations Adviser at Advent International  Megan Neale, CEO & Founder of Limitless  They brought the report to life, digging into the nuance behind the stats and what they mean for today’s digital leaders. Here’s a summary of the key discussion points we focused on:  AI Is everywhere, and the focus is everything  The report shows that AI continues to dominate the tech agenda, with nearly 1 in 5 organisations now running large-scale AI projects, almost double last year’s figure.   But as the panel made clear, AI for the sake of it won’t cut it. The most successful applications are laser-focused on solving a clear problem, whether that’s speeding up development, streamlining customer service, or supporting legal reviews. Those who treat AI as a silver bullet risk wasting time, money and trust.  AI will redefine jobs, and that’s not a bad thing  AI’s impact on roles is no longer hypothetical. The Digital Leadership Report revealed that digital leaders expect that around 18% of the workforce will be automated in the next 5 years.  But rather than sparking fear, the discussion from our panel reframed this shift as an opportunity, and one that we should embrace. AI is freeing up human potential, allowing people to spend more time on work that truly requires creativity, empathy and judgement. The challenge now is equipping teams to work with AI, not just around it.  Is the one-person billion-dollar company coming?  The idea of a single entrepreneur using AI to build a billion-dollar business used to sound like a fantasy. But the panel didn’t dismiss it.  If anything, the question now is: who will be first? And how will established organisations compete with that kind of scale and agility?   The panel made clear that as automation expands, businesses must ask themselves how they structure teams, invest in people, and remain relevant in a world where productivity can be radically redefined.  Cybersecurity needs addressing  After several years of stabilising, the Digital Leadership Report 2025 revealed that cyber threats are on the rise again, with 29% of digital leaders reporting a major cyberattack in the past two years. Organised crime remains the largest concern for digital leaders, but notably, threats from foreign powers and insiders are both increasing, pointing to the growing complexity of modern risk landscapes.  But the panel wasn’t entirely aligned on whether the threat itself is increasing, or we’re just becoming more aware. John Finch, Technology & Operations Adviser at Advent International, noted that cyber incidents may not be occurring more frequently, but rather, organisations and the public are simply hearing about them more.  He referenced the idea that there are three types of organisations: those that have had a breach, those that are currently having one, and those that will - with the emphasis firmly placed on how a business responds and recovers.  Despite differing views on volume, there was clear agreement on this point: cybersecurity must be treated as a strategic, board-level concern. It can’t be confined to IT or treated as a compliance checkbox. In today’s interconnected and complex digital ecosystems, resilience and readiness are essential, not optional.  Hybrid Work: The debate is far from over  This year’s Digital Leadership Report found that three office days per week is now the most common working model. The data also revealed a clear trend: organisations requiring fewer in-office days tend to attract more women into tech roles. For example, tech teams in organisations with 0–2 mandatory office days are, on average, 29% female. compared to just 21% where 4–5 days are required.  But the panel emphasised that this isn’t simply about being in the office less. Instead, the focus should be on making in-office time meaningful, fostering collaboration, learning, and cultural alignment. For those early in their careers, being physically present offers valuable exposure to senior colleagues, real-time feedback and informal learning that can be hard to replicate remotely.  The key takeaway was that hybrid work policies should be intentional, not performative. It's not about benefits or gimmicks, it's about building a culture that supports flexibility, inclusion and growth.  From data to dialogue  The evening’s discussion reflected the core message of the 2025 report: this is a moment of recalibration. AI is pushing boundaries. Cyber threats are evolving. Employee expectations are shifting. And digital leaders are being called to lead with more clarity, intention and courage than ever before.  Thank you to our expert panellists, and all our guests for making this such a thought-provoking and energising launch event.