From buzzword to blueprint: A bibliometric analysis of digital leadership research (2000–2025)

Digital leadership (DL) has emerged as a critical force in driving organisational change amid rapid digital transformation. As businesses increasingly adopt digital technologies, understanding the evolution, conceptual foundations, and practical implications of DL becomes essential. Although there is growing academic interest, thorough bibliometric studies on the evolution of DL research are still scarce. This study fills the gap by performing a detailed bibliometric analysis of 537 publications indexed in Scopus, covering the period from 2000 to June 2025. The research employs VOSviewer and Biblioshiny to chart the intellectual landscape of DL by analyzing keyword co-occurrence, citation networks, and thematic evolution. The findings underscore DL’s pivotal role in shaping digital transformation strategies, particularly in multinational and global organisations. Digital leaders are found to possess unique traits and strategic competencies that distinguish them from traditional leadership, enabling them to manage digital disruptions and technological change effectively. The analysis also reveals a sharp increase in DL-related research following the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the growing need for agile, technology-savvy leadership. The United States, Indonesia, and Germany stand out as major contributors in terms of publication volume and research influence. Recurring themes, such as virtual collaboration, digital capabilities, and innovation, highlight the field's dynamic evolution. Nevertheless, there are ongoing gaps, especially in explicitly outlining DL’s essential characteristics and combining its theoretical principles with empirical evidence that fosters sustainable competitive advantage. This study provides valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, highlighting the significance of interdisciplinary viewpoints to enhance research and practice. It also offers strategic guidance for leadership development in the digital age, aiming to strengthen innovation, resilience, and business strategy in an increasingly digitalised world.