Bridging Technology and Talent: The Role of Soft Skills in Digital Transformation Processes

Emerging technologies pose an increasing challenge for companies to attract and retain professionals capable of leading digital transformation processes. This study aims to identify the most relevant soft skills for professionals responsible for digital transformation in organizations. A qualitative approach was adopted, based on interviews with IT leaders from seven Brazilian companies across different sectors. The findings reveal a strong consensus on the greater importance of soft skills over hard skills in digital transformation efforts. The most frequently cited soft skills include customer focus, communication, adaptability, learning ability, problem-solving, negotiation, and collaboration. These results offer practical contributions to talent management strategies in digitally evolving organizations and highlight the need for further research involving broader, international samples and quantitative approaches.