In an era defined by globalisation and technological transformation, the development of future managers is crucial to the sustainability and competitiveness of organisations. This study examines the effectiveness of Leadership Development Programs (LDPs) in Sierra Leone in equipping emerging leaders with the requisite skills, competencies, and mindsets needed for the digital age of globalisation. Employing a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, the research integrates quantitative component factor analysis with expert surveys and qualitative document content analysis. A framework of 32 leadership capabilities was established, grouped into five major dimensions: strategic leadership competence, managerial competence, technical and digital skills, operational competence, and global thinking mindset. Findings reveal that while traditional managerial and global mindset competencies are moderately represented in current LDPs, critical gaps exist in digital literacy, strategic foresight, and sustainability. Expert analysis and curriculum review further underscore the inadequate inclusion of technical and systems-oriented capabilities. The study concludes that although current LDPs exhibit strengths in areas such as ethics and cultural sensitivity, they fall short in aligning with the demands of future societies. Recommendations are provided to enhance curriculum relevance, emphasising the integration of digital and strategic competencies into leadership training frameworks.
KeywordsLeadership Development ProgramsFuture ManagersSierra LeoneStrategic CompetenceDigital SkillsCurriculum EvaluationGlobal Mindset
Adam, A. M. (2020). Sample Size Determination in Survey Research. Journal of Scientific Research and Reports, 26 , 90-97. https://doi.org/10.9734/jsrr/2020/v26i530263
Al Asefer, M. M., & Zainal Abidin, N. S. (2021). University Programs as Tools for Graduates’ Employability from Employers’ Perspectives: A Review of Academic Literature. South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law, 25, 1-11.
Alkharafi, N., & Alsabah, M. (2025). Globalization: An Overview of Its Main Characteristics and Types, and an Exploration of Its Impacts on Individuals, Firms, and Nations. Economies, 13, Article 91. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13040091
Andrási, G., Körtvési, D., & Szegedi, K. (2022). Developing Ethical Future Managers Embracing Sustainability: Case study of Budapest Business School. International Journal of Web-Based Learning and Teaching Technologies, 17, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijwltt.300786
Baron, I. S., & Agustina, H. (2017). The Effectiveness of Leadership Management Training. Polish Journal of Management Studies, 16, 7-16. https://doi.org/10.17512/pjms.2017.16.2.01
Flaig, J., Alam, A., Huynh, J., Reid-Hector, J., & Heuer, A. (2020). Examining How Formal Leadership Development Programs Positively Influence Hospital Leaders’ Individual Competencies and Organizational Outcomes—An Evidence-Based Literature Review. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 12, 69-83. https://doi.org/10.2147/jhl.s239676
Flores, D. F. (2017). Effect of Leadership Development Programs in the Workplace: Strategies for Human Resource Managers . Doctoral Dissertation, Walden University.
Fuller, L., Beattie, J., Ramsbottom, V., Condon, B., Majer, T., Martin, E. et al. (2025). Developing a Program Logic Model for Evaluation and Research of a Rural Medical Training Stream. BMC Medical Education, 25, Article No. 749. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-025-07315-3
Gottfredson, R., & Crane, B. (2025). Navigating Complex Environments Requires Complex Leaders. Business Horizons . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2025.06.002
Groenewald, C. A., Groenewald, E. S., Uy, F. T., Kilag, O. K. T., Abendan, C. F. K., & Pernites, M. J. F. (2024). Adapting HRM Practices to Globalization: Strategies for Success in a Borderless Economy. International Multidisciplinary Journal of Re-search for Innovation, Sustainability, and Excellence, 1, 142-149.
Hastings, L. J., & Sunderman, H. M. (2019). Generativity and Socially Responsible Leadership among College Student Leaders Who Mentor. Journal of Leadership Education, 18, 1-14.
Haynes-Brown, T. K. (2025). The Role of Sampling in an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study: General Applications of the Transformative Paradigm. Methods in Psychology, 12, Article 100176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metip.2025.100176
Hochghan, M. K., NajafBeigi, R., & Mirsepasi, N. (2024). Leadership Development Programs: Effectiveness from the Participants. Journal of Resource Management and Decision Engineering, 3, 33-39. https://doi.org/10.61838/kman.jrmde.3.1.6
Irianti, I., Syarifuddin, S., & Haerani, A. (2024). Leadership Styles and Organizational Effectiveness: A Review of Recent Literature. Advances: Jurnal Ekonomi & Bisnis , 2, 201-212. https://doi.org/10.60079/ajeb.v2i4.316
Jacquemet, N., Luchini, S., Rosaz, J., & Shogren, J. F. (2021). Can We Commit Future Managers to Honesty? Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article ID: 701627. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.701627
Jayasuriya, R. (2008). The Effects of Globalization on Working Conditions in Developing Countries: An Analysis Framework and Country Study Results. World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/11765
Joshi, A., Kale, S., Chandel, S., & Pal, D. (2015). Likert Scale: Explored and Explained. British Journal of Applied Science & Technology, 7, 396-403. https://doi.org/10.9734/bjast/2015/14975
Kaiser, H. F. (1974). An Index of Factorial Simplicity. Psychometrika, 39, 31-36. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02291575
Kekahio, W., Lawton, B., Cicchinelli, L., & Brandon, P. R. (2014). Logic Models: A Tool for Effective Program Planning, Collaboration, and Monitoring. Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (MCREL) & University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261177247
Koo, M., & Yang, S. (2025). Likert-Type Scale. Encyclopedia, 5, Article 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5010018
Longe, T., & Needham, C. (2023). A Qualitative Exploration of Effective Leadership Development Programs and Leadership Process on Succession Planning and Organizational Performance. International Journal of Business Administration, 14, 33-51. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijba.v14n4p33
Maheshwari, S. K., & Yadav, J. (2018). Leadership Development Strategy: The Missing Links. Development and Learning in Organizations: An International Journal, 32, 11-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/dlo-04-2017-0038
Maranga, D. K. M., & Hudspeth, E. (2016). The Role of Global Leadership in Organizational Development. SSRN Electronic Journal, 1-22. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3124956
Nasir, M. (2023). Future Business Leaders Required Management Skills. American Journal of Economic and Management Business (AJEMB), 2, 393-398. https://doi.org/10.58631/ajemb.v2i10.65
Nurmala, N., & Hermina, U. N. H. (2024). Talent Management: Preparing Future Leaders. International Journal of Business, Economics and Management, 7, 160-167. https://doi.org/10.21744/ijbem.v7n3.2314
Oluwi, V., Agbai, E., & Nwosu, C. (2021). Emerging Technologies, Globalization and Strategic Business Management: Exploring the Trilogy for Developing Countries. European Journal of Business and Management, 13, 1-9.
Omer, D. T. (2024). Leadership Development Training Program Effect on Acquisition of Leadership Competencies for Nurses? A Pilot Study. Journal of Pioneering Medical Science, 13, 93-101. https://doi.org/10.61091/jpms202413415
Packard, T., & Jones, L. (2015). An Outcomes Evaluation of a Leadership Development Initiative. Journal of Management Development, 34, 153-168. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmd-05-2013-0063
Pawar, S., & Dhumal, V. (2024). The Role of Technology in Transforming Leadership Management Practices. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7, Article 2024066. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024066
Puspita, Y. (2024). Impact of Leadership Development Programs on Managerial Effectiveness in Indonesia. International Journal of Leadership and Governance, 4, 38-49. https://doi.org/10.47604/ijlg.2858
Rajashekara, S., Naik, A. D., Campbell, C. M., Gregory, M. E., Rosen, T., Engebretson, A. et al. (2020). Using a Logic Model to Design and Evaluate a Quality Improvement Leadership Course. Academic Medicine, 95, 1201-1206. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000003191
Roman, C. G., Talley, A., Sierka, C., George, K., Water, K. V. d., & Aye, J. (2025). Collaborative Creation of a Logic Model and Performance Metrics for Evaluating a Violence Reduction Program. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 24, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069251319866
Sacavém, A., de Bem Machado, A., dos Santos, J. R., Palma-Moreira, A., Belchior-Rocha, H., & Au-Yong-Oliveira, M. (2025). Leading in the Digital Age: The Role of Leadership in Organizational Digital Transformation. Administrative Sciences, 15, Article 43. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15020043
Savaya, R., & Waysman, M. (2005). The Logic Model. Administration in Social Work, 29, 85-103. https://doi.org/10.1300/j147v29n02_06
Shams, K., Dailey, S., & Steffensmeier, T. (2024). Unveiling the Impact: A Mixed-Method Inquiry into the Impact of Leadership Development Programs. Journal of Leadership Education , 24, 192-212.
Shrestha, N. (2021). Factor Analysis as a Tool for Survey Analysis. American Journal of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, 9, 4-11. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajams-9-1-2
Soegiarto, I., Ainul Arifah, N. J., Rahmadhani, M. V., & Ilham, I. (2024). Effects of Leadership Development Programs, Mentorship, and Employee Empowerment on Organizational Performance. International Journal of Business, Law, and Education, 5, 1923-1937. https://doi.org/10.56442/ijble.v5i2.755
Sonmez Cakir, F., & Adiguzel, Z. (2020). Analysis of Leader Effectiveness in Organization and Knowledge Sharing Behavior on Employees and Organization. Sage Open, 10, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020914634
Sulieman, M. (2021). Managerial Skills and Competencies of Future Managers in UAE. Akkad Journal of Contemporary Management Studies, 1, 195-202. https://doi.org/10.55202/ajcms.v1i4.76
Teofilovic, B., & Starcevic, M. (2024). Developing Future Leaders: The Role of Human Resources in Fostering Innovative Leadership. Science International Journal, 3, 135-140. https://doi.org/10.35120/sciencej0304135t
Zafar, A., Zaki, A. R., & Mustafa, S. (2023). The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Transformational Leadership. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 7, 377-388.