Leading AI-Driven Digital Transformation: A Review of Leadership Attributes and Practices, with Implications for Singapore

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping how enterprises are led, organised, and governed, raising critical questions about which leadership attributes and practices best enable AI-driven digital transformation (AIDT). Enterprises face growing pressure to accelerate AIDT in Asian countries such as Singapore, with stakeholders demanding tangible returns from AI investments, though there is limited clarity on the leadership attributes and practices that enable such success. Drawing on an integrated theoretical lens that synthesises theories of transformational leadership, ambidextrous leadership, and dynamic capabilities, this paper systematically reviews 73 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines and thematically synthesises the evidence into an integrated leadership framework for AIDT. The synthesis identifies seven leadership attributes, four strategic priorities, six organisational focus areas for AI exploration, and six integrated AI governance practices. This review reports valuable findings on navigating AIDT with key leadership attributes and practices that balance innovation, accountability, and sustainability. The study contributes to the leadership and digital transformation literature by clarifying how leadership orchestrates the interplay between technology, practices, and governance in AIDT, and by proposing a research agenda for empirically validating the framework derived across various industry contexts.