Toward a Global Integrative Leadership Model: Bridging Ethical, Cognitive, Cultural, Digital, and AI Leadership

Abstract

Leadership theory faces increasing fragmentation under the combined pressures of globalization, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence, limiting its ability to explain leadership effectiveness in contemporary contexts. The purpose of this study is to develop the Global Integrative Leadership Model (GILM), which unifies ethical, cognitive, cultural, digital, and AI leadership domains into a coherent framework. The study adopts a conceptual, theory-building approach grounded in an integrative literature review, synthesizing established and emerging research across leadership, organizational studies, and socio-technical systems. Transforming Steward Leadership (TSL), comprising character, competence, and stewardship, is positioned as the foundational driver that activates four higher-order capabilities: Ethical-Cognitive Leadership, Adaptive Global Capability, Socio-Technical Transformation Capability, and Responsible AI Leadership Capability. The model proposes that leadership effectiveness and broader outcomes emerge from the alignment and interaction of these capabilities rather than isolated competencies. The key contribution lies in advancing a multidimensional, systems-based leadership framework that addresses the complexities of global and AI-enabled environments while providing a clear pathway for future empirical validation using structural equation modeling.