Leading sustainability in restaurants: how authentic leadership cultivates green commitment through innovation and trust

Purpose This research investigates the connection between authentic leadership and green commitment within the context of Egyptian fine restaurants, with the social exchange theory as the theoretical basis. It looks at the mediating role of green innovation and the moderating role of green trust in this connection. Design/methodology/approach Data were analyzed using a sample of 637 employees within Egyptian fine restaurants using PLS-SEM. Findings The evidence verifies that authentic leadership has positive effects on both green commitment and green innovation. Furthermore, green innovation is discovered to be a significant mediating variable in the relationship between authentic leadership and green commitment, implying that authentic leaders trigger innovation for sustainability. Green trust is also discovered to moderate the authentic leadership-green commitment relationship. Research limitations/implications By applying the social exchange theory, this study offers practical consequences in addition to theoretical insights. It argues that by taking into account green innovation and green trust, the use of authentic leadership can significantly enhance green commitment. Originality/value This research adds to the literature by being the first to test empirically the effects of authentic leadership on green commitment via green innovation and green trust in the under-investigated environment of Egyptian fine dining restaurants. It expands the social exchange theory by incorporating green innovation as a mediator and green trust as a moderator, which have not been examined together in this context before. The results provide new knowledge on sustainable leadership in the hospitality industry of a developing nation.