TITLE:
The Diffusion of Authentic Leadership: Examining the Influence of Leadership on the Economic Progress of Africa
AUTHORS:
Oladapo Rasul, Caston-Black Obayomi, Mona Sabetimani
KEYWORDS:
Authentic Leadership, Leadership, Economic Progress
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Business and Management,
Vol.13 No.6,
November
7,
2025
ABSTRACT: African countries are actively seeking to develop their economies, and it is believed that leaders have a critical role to play. This paper presents a comprehensive review of how the knowledge initiatives of authentic leadership practices constitute a significant catalyst for the economic development trajectories of African nations. The study adopted a qualitative research method, more specifically systematic review. Studies on authentic leadership within the last 10 years were collected. It extracted three themes, namely, transparency, self-awareness, and ethical principles. Eleven (11) studies were extensively reviewed for this purpose, and it was discovered that transparency, self-awareness, and ethical principle have an influence on economic progression of Africa. It is recommended that leaders should engage in regular self-reflection and seek feedback from peers and subordinates to enhance their self-awareness. Also, leaders should communicate openly and honestly with stakeholders, providing regular updates on organizational goals, challenges, and progress.