THP FBF academics’ impactful research earns
2025 Emerald Literati Awards

An exceptional research study is impactful, and promotes global awareness of diverse voices and their valuable contributions to knowledge, communities, and industries. This exceptional research titled “Unlocking the Potential: The Impact of Digital Leadership on Firms’ Performance through Digital Transformation”, was co-authored by Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance (THP FBF) academics, namely Dean Prof Dr Au Yong Hui Nee, Deputy Dean for R&D and Postgraduate Programmes Prof Dr Abdelhak Senadjki, Department of Economics Head Dr Thavamalar Ganapathy, and Dr Samuel Ogbeibu from the University of Bradford (UoB), United Kingdom (UK).

The team of researchers was awarded the 2025 Emerald Literati Awards for Outstanding Paper, highlighting the research’s academic quality and impact within the scholarly community. Prof Abdelhak expressed, “Winning the Emerald Literati Award for our work on digital leadership and transformation is a tremendous honour and a testament to the collaborative, high-impact research environment we cultivate at the Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance. What sets our research apart is our commitment to bridging the digital divide within the Malaysian business landscape; by leveraging transformational leadership theory and rigorously analysing the mediating role of digital transformation, we provide actionable insights for practitioners navigating today’s volatile digital economy. It is incredibly rewarding to have this work recognised, as it demonstrates that leaders must strategically orchestrate digital transformation within the context of a supportive, green organisational culture to ensure long-term financial resilience. This success was made possible by the synergy of our research team and the steadfast support of UTAR, specifically through the UTAR Research Fund (UTARRF), which empowered us to address real-world challenges for Malaysian firms. Ultimately, this award reflects our collective dedication to producing socially relevant research that contributes to the global discourse on Industry 4.0 and it reinforces my passion for continuing to explore the intersection of economic strategy and technology.”

Prof Au Yong enthused, “I am excited about winning this Emerald Literati Award as it recognises my endeavours in my academic career. I thank the University and Faculty for their support in this research and the opportunities for growth. What set me apart in this paper was not just the idea of the research project itself, but the passion behind it and the persistence in conducting it well. I focused on connecting real-world issues with industrial insights, ensuring our research is not only theoretically sound but also relevant and impactful to the industry and society. I am open to feedback and continuously pursue this work beyond minimum expectations. My involvement in the research team on the digital economy and skills stems from a strong belief that we are living in a digital revolution era where digital capabilities open opportunities. I wanted to better understand how employees and industries with digital leadership can embrace change and remain competitive in this uncertain economy. The research project is timely, particularly in closing gaps in digital skills development and digital inclusion.”

Dr Thavamalar commented, “I am deeply honoured and grateful to receive the Outstanding Paper Award at the 2025 Emerald Literati Awards. Having previously received the Outstanding Reviewer Award at the 2023 Emerald Literati Awards, this recognition holds even greater personal meaning for me. It reflects my continued commitment to contributing to academic excellence both as a researcher and as a reviewer. Winning this award is truly meaningful, as it represents the dedication, passion, and perseverance invested throughout the research journey. This recognition not only validates my efforts but also inspires me to continue pursuing impactful research that bridges theory and practice. I am sincerely thankful for this opportunity and motivated to contribute further to advancing knowledge in the future.”

The team also attributed this recognition to the university’s and faculty’s support through its established collaborative research environment that promotes academic rigour and professional development. This encourages faculty members to engage in cutting-edge topics like digital leadership and transformation, further providing an intellectual space for academics to explore complex economic challenges.

The award-winning research aims to bridge the digital divide by investigating the impact of digital leadership (capabilities, experience, predictability, and vision) and green organisational culture (GOC) on firms’ digital transformation and financial performance. In the context of Malaysian firms, these relationships are particularly significant, as many firms have shown relatively poor performance due to a lack of digital knowledge and awareness. Further findings also show that digital transformation mediates the relationship between digital leadership components and financial performance. These significant findings inform practitioners on ways to manage digital leadership resources and GOC to foster digital transformation and improve financial performance. They will also support government initiatives to accelerate digitalisation and Industry 4.0 implementation, highlighting the importance of aligning digital transformation with environmentally responsible (green) practices.

This research is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, as fostering digital skills and improving organisational performance enable digital transformation to contribute significantly towards economic growth and productivity. The research also emphasises the role of leaders in nurturing digitally skilled teams, which is essential for creating quality employment and enhancing the long-term financial viability of firms.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure is also aligned with this research, as it highlights how digital leadership and transformation empower firms to adopt modern technologies, which is central to building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialisation. Additionally, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production is well considered in this research because it integrates GOC with digital transformation, demonstrating how digital strategies can be used to improve resource efficiency, minimise waste, and promote environmentally accountable operational practices.