Corporate sustainability has emerged as a critical imperative for firms navigating volatile markets and ecological constraints, yet the mechanisms linking organizational practices to sustainability outcomes remain underexplored, particularly in developing economies. Drawing on the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities theory, this paper examines how transformational leadership and knowledge sharing synergistically enhance innovation capability, which in turn fosters environmental dynamism and corporate sustainability performance. Using a structured questionnaire within a cross-sectional design to gather data from 140 Moroccan SMEs, data were collected via an online questionnaire from 140 Moroccan SME owners and managers, with hypotheses tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that knowledge sharing, and transformational leadership significantly strengthen innovation capability. Innovation capability further drives environmental dynamism, which positively impacts sustainability performance. These findings advance theory by integrating knowledge-based, leadership, and dynamic capability perspectives into a novel pathway for achieving sustainability goals. The study underscores the necessity for SMEs in developing nations to cultivate leadership that inspires knowledge exchange and adaptive innovation, enabling resilience amid ecological and market shifts. By highlighting these internal drivers, the research offers actionable insights for SMEs and policymakers seeking to align business innovation strategies with sustainability objectives and pro-environmental transformation in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Introduction: This study examines the strategic management of nation branding from a soft power perspective, focusing on Qatar’s use of sports mega-events to enhance its global image. In contrast to hard power, soft power, in the realm of national or public diplomacy, refers to using cooperation rather than coercion to influence the impressions and preferences of others. Our research highlights the efforts by the government of Qatar to leverage sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup, to boost international visibility, enhance cultural exchange, and attract tourism and investments.Methods: Using document analysis and semi-structured interviews, we investigate how global sports serve as a unique soft power vehicle for nation branding, building the attraction and appeal of a nation.Results: Our findings deepen insights into how nations can strategically and sustainably use globally known and popular sports to cultivate soft power, heighten national pride, and project a positive identity on the world stage.Discussion: We contribute to the literature on soft power by developing a systematic conceptual framework for understanding how mega-sports events can be strategically managed to support nation branding and public diplomacy.

This study investigates how social media exposure shapes young adults’ attitudes and intentions toward sustainable products in Kuwait—a high-income, oil-dependent context undergoing a digital and cultural shift. Integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), the research explores the mediating roles of environmental responsibility, social influence, and consumer attitudes in the formation of sustainable purchase intentions. Data were collected via an online survey of 702 respondents aged 18–30 and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings reveal that social media usage significantly influences sustainable purchase intention, social influence, and consumer attitudes. Environmental responsibility emerges as a key driver of both attitudinal and normative pathways. Notably, the study finds no direct link between consumer attitude and intention, highlighting a persistent attitude–behavior gap. The results offer theoretical insights into digital persuasion and normative influence while providing practical guidance for marketers and policymakers promoting sustainability in digitally connected, non-Western societies.

Introduction: Leaders’ self-awareness is essential to leadership effectiveness. Cognitive styles—how individuals perceive and process information—are key factors in fostering self-awareness. Drawing on Social Identity Theory (SIT), this study explores whether cognitive style congruence between supervisors and subordinates enhances supervisors’ self-awareness, and whether Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) mediates this relationship.Methods: We used a time-lagged dyadic design and multilevel polynomial regression to analyze data from 189 subordinates and 36 supervisors. Cognitive styles were measured across three dimensions: knowing, planning, and creating. We assessed congruence between supervisors and subordinates and tested LMX as a mediator of its relationship with supervisors’ self-awareness in the context of transformational leadership.Results: Findings show that LMX fully mediates the relationship between cognitive style congruence (for knowing and creating styles) and supervisors’ self-awareness. Additionally, LMX is highest when supervisors and subordinates share high congruence in these styles. No significant effects were found for the planning style.Discussion: The study highlights the value of aligning cognitive styles in leader–follower pairs. High cognitive congruence enhances LMX quality, which in turn fosters leader self-awareness—an important precursor to transformational leadership effectiveness.

This study investigates the integration of technology acceptance and financial literacy in the context of sustainable credit card use in Kuwait. It aims to identify and evaluate the key technological and financial determinants influencing user behavior and acceptance of credit cards as a fintech tool. A survey was conducted with 367 credit card users in Kuwait using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), examining variables such as Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEU), Perceived Cost (PC), Perceived Risk (PR), and E-Financial Literacy (EFL). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data. The findings suggest that both technological and financial factors have significant effects on user acceptance. Specifically, PU and PEU significantly influenced users’ attitudes towards credit cards, which in turn shaped their Behavioral Intention (BI) to use them. Financial aspects, notably PC and PR, are crucial in shaping the overall Perceived Value (PV), impacting BI. EFL plays a central role in mediating the effects of technological and financial perceptions on user attitudes and perceived value. The study concludes that the acceptance of credit cards in Kuwait is highly influenced by the interplay between technology acceptance factors and financial literacy. Users’ attitudes towards financial technology are shaped by their perceptions of its usability, usefulness, associated costs, and risks. Enhancing financial literacy, particularly electronic financial literacy, could significantly foster broader acceptance of Fintech tools, such as credit cards.