Digital leadership and its impact on agility, innovation and resilience: a qualitative study of the UAE media industry

Purpose To explore the role of digital leadership in fostering strategic agility, innovation adaptivity, organizational agility and resilience in the context of digital transformation. Design/methodology/approach Following an interpretive case study approach and using a thematic data analysis technique, we conducted 20 in-depth interviews with digital leaders from five different media firms across the UAE. Findings The findings reveal that digital leaders are central to developing and executing digital strategies that enhance organizational agility and competitive edge, particularly in firms’ digital transformation. Digital leaders catalyze innovation and adaptability, ensuring the organization’s readiness for technological and market shifts. Moreover, digital leaders are instrumental in fostering an environment that promotes continuous learning, technological integration and a culture of change, which drives organizational agility and resilience. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in its focused examination of digital leadership within the UAE’s media sector, offering new insights into how digital leadership drives strategic agility, innovation adaptivity, organizational agility and resilience in a regionally specific digital transformation context. Our findings contribute to the broader academic and practical understanding of digital transformation in the media industry.