Sustainable Leadership in Practice: An Exploratory Study Within the U.S. Tech Industry

Abstract

This doctoral research investigates the role of moral values and ethical reasoning in shaping the leadership and management of sustainability initiatives within the U.S. technology sector. It examines how the virtues and ethical orientations of sustainable leaders are embedded in their sustainability agendas, with particular emphasis on environmental stewardship and climate action. The study identifies the most salient moral and ethical principles that inform the practice of sustainable leadership and influence decision-making processes. The research is theoretically grounded in ethical leadership, with a focus on virtue ethics, as well as servant leadership and sustainable leadership frameworks. Drawing on a synthesis of contemporary literature and empirical data, the study demonstrates that moral values and ethical judgement are integral to the development of sustainable leadership practices and the effective implementation of sustainability strategies. It advances the argument that sustainability constitutes an extension of business ethics, wherein moral agency and ethical deliberation are central to aligning organisational goals with long-term environmental and social outcomes. Empirical data were generated through 45 semi-structured interviews with sustainable leaders operating across large and small-to-medium sized technology firms in the United States. These interviews explored participants’ personal values, ethical beliefs, and leadership experiences, offering insight into how moral reasoning shapes their approach to sustainability. The findings illuminate the moral agency of sustainable leaders and provides a nuanced understanding of how ethical leadership contributes to sustainable development. This study contributes to the evolving discourse on ethical and sustainable leadership by offering a practitioner-informed perspective on the ethical dimensions of sustainability-oriented leadership. It also provides a qualitative framework for assessing the influence of moral values on leadership behaviour and offers practical implications for embedding ethics into sustainability governance.