Leadership models for fostering sustainable innovation: a conceptual framework for strategic integration across UN sustainable development goals

PurposeThis article examines how different leadership architectures enable organizations to systematically pursue sustainable innovation in the context of accelerating digital disruption, climate imperatives and increasing stakeholder demands for environmental, social and governance accountability. Building on a multi-theoretic foundation, the study advances a unified conceptual framework that addresses the theoretical fragmentation characterizing extant leadership-sustainability scholarship.Design/methodology/approachA systematic conceptual synthesis approach (Torraco, 2016; Jaakkola, 2020) was adopted to develop a multi-model framework integrating six leadership models. The framework draws on Upper Echelons Theory, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, Stakeholder Theory and Organizational Learning Theory. Literature was selected from association of business schools (ABS)-ranked management, leadership and sustainability journals published between 1977 and 2025.FindingsThe article advances five theoretically grounded research propositions demonstrating that different leadership styles perform distinct yet complementary roles in fostering sustainable innovation. The framework reveals how leadership influences organizational adaptability, innovation capability and stakeholder engagement, enhancing sustainability outcomes aligned with sustainable development goals (SDGs) 8, 9, 12 and 17.Research limitations/implicationsAs a conceptual study, the framework requires empirical validation across diverse organizational and national contexts. Future research should employ cross-national comparisons, longitudinal designs, mixed-methods approaches and multi-level structural equation modeling to test and refine the proposed relationships.Practical implicationsThe study provides actionable insights for managers and policymakers by identifying leadership configurations that bridge the gap between sustainability ambitions and innovation execution. The Leadership Capability Audit framework and Leadership-SDG Alignment Matrix offer concrete diagnostic tools for organizations at different stages of sustainability maturity.Social implicationsBy aligning leadership-driven innovation with the UN 2030 Agenda, the framework contributes to broader societal goals in advancing inclusive economic growth, responsible production, climate adaptation and collaborative partnerships for sustainable development.Originality/valueThree original contributions are made: (1) the first framework to explicitly map six leadership models to specific UN SDGs, (2) introduction of contextual integration as a novel moderating construct linking leadership behavior to sustainable innovation outcomes and (3) five empirically testable propositions providing a structured research agenda addressing the fragmentation identified by Voegtlin et al. (2012) and Metcalf and Benn (2013).