Strategic Leadership for Achieving SDG 9: Building Sustainable Industry and Innovation Exploring the role of transformational leadership in advancing resilient infrastructure

Abstract

Set forth in the SDGs consciously and explicitly are SDG 9 (Sustainable Development Goal 9) and SDG 9.1-Sustainable Development Goal 9.1- (Building resilient Infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation). Leadership is central to the marshaling of resources, alignment of stakeholders, and the long-term resilience of industry. This paper will discuss how transformational leadership is involved in promoting SDG 9, by promoting innovation-driven cultures, empowering human capital and enabling sustainable industrial eco-systems. By getting a review of the studies on the topic and an analysis of leadership practice, the research points out the work of transformational leaders as an act of catalyst in the industrial modernization and the resilience of infrastructure. The results indicate that transformational leadership elicits organizational flexibility, reinforces research and development (R&D) and establish cross-sector alliances which are required to sustain industry. Nevertheless, there are operational constraints out there such as lack of resources, disparity in technological access and differences in the leadership ability amongst geographical locations. The next step in the research should concentrate on the conceptualization of the measurable approaches to leadership regarding SDG 9 goals, cross-national comparative research, and digital expertise needed to make sustainable industrial transitions.