Abstract:

Necessity for Future Leaders in Europe:
Worldwide, Europe stands in competition with China, USA in future technologies and global digital business. Many, especially our SMEs, struggle, partly due to cultural hesitations and organizational barriers. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that digital transformation is no longer a luxury but a necessity. While global tech giants dominate the stage, Europe is striving to equip itself with forward-thinking competencies and a distinctive digital ethos. Our diverse culture and strict regulations can be both a blessing and a curse. Yet, the message is clear:
- Only a deeply rooted digital mindset that goes beyond technology will secure Europe's position in the upcoming digital decade.
- Only future leaders with future skills and digital mindset can guarantee the success in Europe.

Digital Mindset:
The Central Driving Force Behind Future Leadership and Successful Digital Transformation:
To support SMEs in their sustainable transformation, the development of a "Digital Mindset" is essential. To outline the core of the Digital Mindset and assist SMEs during their digital transformation, an innovatively conducted Delphi study presents a framework developed through Design Thinking for describing and quantifying this mindset. The key actors involved are top, middle, and lower management, employees, and external stakeholders.

Refining Educational Foundations: A Framework for Instilling a Digital Mindset in 21st-Century Skillsets:
The students are future leaders and the digital future! The education in Europe has to ensure that the future leaders with digital mindset can be developed in a deep range. Within the sphere of 21st-century skills, a paradigm shift is paramount—where the cultivation of a digital mindset is not ancillary but central to the educational process. It's about nurturing a framework of competencies that intertwines critical thinking, creativity, and technological fluency with the agility to navigate the complexities of a digitized global economy. This educational foundation is crucial for shaping a workforce that not only thrives in the present but is also engineered to anticipate and lead future advancements. The framework proposed herein offers a fresh lens through which the digital mindset is not merely about the adoption of tools, but about a comprehensive culture change. It’s about instilling a mindset that is inherently proactive, innovative, and resilient—a mindset that is ingrained during educational development and refined through lifelong learning. By advancing this narrative, we aim to provide SMEs with the human capital that is not just ready for the future but is capable of crafting it.

Measurement of the Digital Mindset: A Model for Quantification:
In the rapid digital era, the quantification of the "Digital Mindset" is not just a trend but a revolution. Professionals assert that concretely measuring soft factors is the secret of future-oriented companies. It's not just about numbers – it's about progress, adaptability, and targeted strategies. Dive into a model that unveils organizational culture, leadership, and external relationships. Discover specific parameters and metrics to gauge the digital pulse of your company on a 5-stage scale.
It's time to shape the future!

Keywords:

Future leaders, 21st century skills, education, Quantification Model, Digital Mindset, SMEs.