UNDERSTANDING THE CONCEPT OF “LEADER” IN THE DIGITALIZED WORLD

The article presents an interdisciplinary socio-philosophical and sociological analysis of the semantic field of the concept of "leader" and the trend of its transformation under the growing influence of digitalization on social processes, particularly the evolution of leadership. In the digital society, the concept of "leader" acquires new meanings, adapting to the challenges of the virtual space, necessitating a rethinking of the essence and functions of this phenomenon. The purpose of this study is to provide a socio-philosophical and sociological understanding of the content of the concept of "leader" in the digitalized world through the analysis of its etymology, key attributes, and transformations under the influence of digital technologies. Methodology and Research Design. The article is based on an interdisciplinary approach that combines etymological analysis, digital tools such as Google Trends for studying query dynamics, and a comparative analysis of the popularity of the concept across different regions. Content analysis of queries, categorization, and data synthesis were conducted globally and specifically in Ukraine over 21 years (2004–2025), including the early weeks of 2025. A sociological interpretation of the data complements the research design. Conclusions and Prospects for Further Research. The conclusions highlight the semantic field of the etymology of the concept "leader" and its key attributive contexts (subjective, characterological, procedural, status-based, mediational, origin-related, and digitalization). The dynamic adaptation of leadership to the challenges of the digital society is underscored. Three main categories of queries are identified: the definition of the concept, political and business contexts, and branding. The impact of digitalization on the social roles of leaders is emphasized, and the need for further research on virtual reality, its connection with leadership, and the formation of social relationships is outlined. Future prospects include the analysis of digital leaders, their influence on global trends, and the practical application of this knowledge for the development of institutions and society as a whole.