Leadership Development Programs and Their Effectiveness in Building Future Managers in Sierra Leone

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.