Exploring the Influence of Spiritual Leadership on Employee Engagement across Startups in Karnataka

This study explores the role of spiritual leadership in enhancing employee engagement within startups in Karnataka. Using qualitative interviews with founders and quantitative survey analysis, it examines how empathy, vision, ethical behavior, and hope foster motivated and committed teams. Results reveal a significant positive relationship between spiritual leadership practices and employee engagement, supported by strong reliability and validity. The findings underline the importance of integrating spiritual leadership principles in startups, where cultivating purpose and well-being can drive success. Practical insights are offered for founders and HR professionals to build supportive workplace cultures through purpose-driven leadership. Limitations include the regional scope and cross-sectional design, suggesting future research across diverse contexts and longitudinal studies. This work contributes to workplace spirituality by providing empirical evidence from an underexplored entrepreneurial setting.