Leadership and Organisational Performance in State-Owned Enterprises for Economic Growth and Development: The Mediating Effect of an Intrapreneurial C-suite

State-Owned Enterprises worldwide play a significant role in most economies, serving as a vital source of employment and a catalyst for economic growth. The high prevalence of inefficient SOEs, demonstrated by suboptimal financial returns and inadequate service delivery is an economic crisis on the African continent. Efforts to restructure and reconfigure state-owned enterprises have not resulted in notable improvements in their performance, and a considerable segment of the population continues to lack access to basic services. Macro-trends including the transition to a greener and more socially responsible economy, the rapid adoption of AI, market disruption from digitisation, and evolving generational attitudes necessitate a paradigm shift in public enterprise management. The study sought to demonstrate the impact of intrapreneurial C-suite on the performance of State-Owned Enterprises within the framework of Dynamic Capabilities View. Findings allude to the unquestionable role of intrapreneurial leadership in accentuating firm performance. The study highlights an urgent need for an intrapreneurial C-suite at the helm of these public entities to enhance performance and provide public value by advancing innovation and utilizing modern technologies. The paper contributes to the strategic regeneration and future-proofing agenda of state-owned enterprises for economic growth and development.