Franco Gandolfi, DBA – Professor of Management, California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM), California, USA
Seth Stone, DSL – Associate Professor of Leadership, University of Jamestown, North Dakota, USA
Bob Bailey – Founder of Aspen Grove Leadership Solutions; Doctoral Researcher in Strategic Leadership, Regent University, Virginia, USA

Series: Leadership in a Changing World; Organization, Business and Management
BISAC: BUS071000; BUS063000; BUS041000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52305/BQWG1051

In an era marked by global disruption, ethical uncertainty, technological transformation, and declining trust in institutions, authentic leadership has emerged as one of the most important leadership paradigms of the twenty-first century. Authentic Leadership: Leading with Purpose, Meaning, and Core Values offers a timely and comprehensive exploration of what it truly means to lead with integrity, self-awareness, and moral courage in a rapidly changing world. Bringing together scholars and practitioners from diverse international backgrounds, this volume examines authentic leadership from theoretical, practical, psychological, organizational, and ethical perspectives. The book explores the conceptual evolution of authentic leadership, its relationship to transformational and servant leadership, the role of purpose and values in leadership practice, psychological safety, meaningful work, resilience, organizational change, and the growing risks of toxic leadership disguised as authenticity.  Rather than presenting authenticity as a simplistic ideal, this book critically engages with the tensions and challenges associated with authentic leadership, including questions surrounding morality, identity, self-awareness, organizational culture, and leadership effectiveness. The contributors provide balanced, evidence-based insights supported by contemporary research, real-world applications, and practical reflections relevant to modern organizations and institutional entities.

Designed to bridge academic rigor with practical relevance, this volume serves as a resource and a leadership guide for those seeking to lead with greater purpose, responsibility, and humanity. At its core, the book argues that authentic leadership is not merely about “being yourself,” but about aligning values, actions, and purpose in ways that foster trust, engagement, ethical decision-making, and sustainable organizational impact.