South Africa, Feb. 13 -- For Africa, this moment is poignant. I have often argued that the continent faces a 140-year development gap. This is a legacy we must now close, not in a century, but in a decade. As we look toward the leadership landscape of 2026, we finally have the tools to do so. But technology, as I wrote in The Brave Code, is merely a hammer. It remains a dumb tool until it is wielded with human creativity.

The trends shaping 2026 are not just about algorithms; they are about a fundamental rewiring of how we lead people. Drawing on research from global consultancies and lessons we have learned building the Brave Group, here are three shifts every marketer and business leader must navigate.

1. The gorilla in the room: The ...