From Self to System: A Mixed-Methods Sustainability Leadership Framework

Braßler, Mirjam; Berning, Charlotte; Chi, Emily; El Dakkour, Sara; Fischer, Jennifer; Jeschek, Benedikt Paul; Neumann, Laura; Pott, Sophia Marie; Struwe, Lucie; Völter, Jana; Wilms, Jule

doi:10.3390/su18158011

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Open AccessArticle

From Self to System: A Mixed-Methods Sustainability Leadership Framework

by

Mirjam Braßler

^*

,

Charlotte Berning

^†,

Emily Chi

^†

,

Sara El Dakkour

^†,

Jennifer Fischer

^†,

Benedikt Paul Jeschek

^†,

Laura Neumann

^†,

Sophia Marie Pott

^†,

Lucie Struwe

^†,

Jana Völter

^† and

Jule Wilms

^†

Institute of Psychology, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

^†

These authors contributed equally to this work.

Sustainability 2026, 18(15), 8011; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18158011

Submission received: 6 July 2026 / Revised: 29 July 2026 / Accepted: 4 August 2026 / Published: 6 August 2026

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Higher Education: Innovative Teaching and Learning, and Leadership for Creating Impacts on Local Society and Globally)

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Abstract

Sustainability leadership is increasingly recognised as essential for addressing complex socio-ecological challenges, yet empirically grounded competency frameworks remain scarce, particularly those derived from interdisciplinary and intergenerational samples. Building on an extensive literature synthesis, this study developed an a priori framework comprising four dimensions: (1) Knowledge & Understanding, (2) Values, Motivation & Purpose, (3) Leadership Practices & Impact, and (4) Inner Development & Learning, operationalised into 20 core competency elements. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was conducted at Kiel University, combining quantitative importance ratings from 301 participants with qualitative content analysis of open-ended responses from 312 participants across all faculties and status groups. Quantitative findings supported all 20 elements, with systemic, value-oriented, and collaborative competencies rated particularly highly. Qualitative findings supported all deductive competency domains, with K2 and K5 merged into one integrated category, and added 12 inductive categories, foregrounding relational, visionary, critical-systemic, and inner-directed capacities. Trust and empathy emerged as implicit foundations across several dimensions. The resulting framework is organised across four competency dimensions and three relational levels: I (the leader within), Us (in relation to others), and World (in relation to society and systems). It offers a theoretically and empirically grounded foundation for sustainability leadership development in higher education, organisations, and professional training.

Keywords: sustainability leadership; leadership competency framework; mixed-methods research; relational leadership; responsible leadership; higher education; interdisciplinarity; intergenerational; Inner development goals; convergent parallel design

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MDPI and ACS Style

Braßler, M.; Berning, C.; Chi, E.; El Dakkour, S.; Fischer, J.; Jeschek, B.P.; Neumann, L.; Pott, S.M.; Struwe, L.; Völter, J.; et al. From Self to System: A Mixed-Methods Sustainability Leadership Framework. Sustainability 2026, 18, 8011. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18158011

AMA Style

Braßler M, Berning C, Chi E, El Dakkour S, Fischer J, Jeschek BP, Neumann L, Pott SM, Struwe L, Völter J, et al. From Self to System: A Mixed-Methods Sustainability Leadership Framework. Sustainability. 2026; 18(15):8011. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18158011

Chicago/Turabian Style

Braßler, Mirjam, Charlotte Berning, Emily Chi, Sara El Dakkour, Jennifer Fischer, Benedikt Paul Jeschek, Laura Neumann, Sophia Marie Pott, Lucie Struwe, Jana Völter, and et al. 2026. "From Self to System: A Mixed-Methods Sustainability Leadership Framework" Sustainability 18, no. 15: 8011. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18158011

APA Style

Braßler, M., Berning, C., Chi, E., El Dakkour, S., Fischer, J., Jeschek, B. P., Neumann, L., Pott, S. M., Struwe, L., Völter, J., & Wilms, J. (2026). From Self to System: A Mixed-Methods Sustainability Leadership Framework. Sustainability, 18(15), 8011. https://doi.org/10.3390/su18158011

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