Singapore – AI is fast-tracking a new generation of Gen Z business leaders, reshaping how organisations identify, develop and promote talent for senior roles, according to new research from International Workplace Group (IWG).
The findings show that 82% of senior leaders believe AI is accelerating the rise of younger employees into leadership positions.
Rather than viewing artificial intelligence purely as a productivity tool, established leaders increasingly see it as a mechanism for building influence, expertise and strategic advantage earlier in a career.
Four in five senior leaders (80%) reported that their younger employees are reaching leadership roles earlier than previous generations did. Meanwhile, 92% said they would be likely to appoint a Gen Z candidate to a senior leadership role.
The shift is already visible in Singapore’s workforce. A separate Deloitte survey found that 46% of Gen Zs in the city-state already hold managerial, supervisory or executive roles, while 81% expressed interest in taking on leadership positions.
According to IWG, this points to a broader change in how businesses operate. AI is no longer only altering how work gets done; it is also altering how future leaders are spotted, developed and promoted.
Among younger employees themselves, confidence in their own trajectory is notably high. IWG’s research found that 95% of those aged 21 to 29 believe they are likely to hold a senior leadership role by the age of 30.
Four in five young leaders (80%) said AI has given them knowledge that would previously have required years of experience to acquire, while 79% said AI tools help them perform tasks beyond their current seniority.
Singapore’s Gen Z workforce leads global peers on this front. The Deloitte study reported that 88% of Gen Zs in Singapore use AI in their day-to-day work, compared with a global average of 74%.
The same study found that 40% of Gen Z in Singapore intend to keep pursuing new training as AI technology evolves, an indication of sustained appetite for technology-driven career progression.
Beyond raw adoption, younger leaders also linked AI use directly to career confidence. IWG found that 78% said AI has increased their confidence in taking on leadership responsibilities, while 79% believe it helps them contribute more strategically.
A further 86% said they believe they are progressing faster in their careers than previous generations did at the same stage.
Separate research from Randstad found that 63% of Gen Zs in Singapore turn to AI for work-related advice. However, 78% said they still rely on colleagues from different generations to broaden their perspective, suggesting a blended approach to career development rather than a wholesale shift away from human mentorship.
Government-led initiatives are also playing a role in Singapore’s AI-ready workforce push. Programmes such as the Tech Elevation and Career Hub (TECH) and the National Trades Union Congress’s AI-Ready SG initiative aim to equip workers, particularly younger employees, to operate effectively as AI becomes more embedded in day-to-day work.
Christian Schmitz, CEO of International Workplace Group, said, “The organisations that succeed over the coming years will be those that recognise leadership potential earlier and create environments where talented people can develop quickly. AI is accelerating capability, but businesses also need the right culture, opportunities and leadership to help people reach their full potential.”
“This isn’t simply about promoting younger leaders sooner. It is about giving people the tools, flexibility and support to make better decisions, adapt faster and create more value for customers,” Schmitz added.
“The findings reinforce that AI is changing not only how businesses operate, but also how they identify, develop and promote the next generation of leaders,” he said.
