Green Transformational Leadership and Corporate Environmental Performance: An Environmental Innovation Perspective From an Emerging Economy

ABSTRACT

We investigate the relationship of green transformational leadership (GTL) and corporate environmental performance (CEP) as an environmental strategy implementation challenge in Bangladesh's telecommunications industry. Drawing on environmental innovation theory, AMO, and social exchange perspectives, we examine the direct association between GTL and CEP; the mediating roles of green innovative work behavior (GIWB) and green knowledge sharing behavior (GKSB); and the moderating influences of workplace spirituality (WS) and green technology adoption (GTA) as strategic boundary conditions. Survey data from 384 employees were analyzed using Smart‐PLS 4.0. The findings indicate that GTL is positively associated with CEP, with GIWB and GKSB partially mediating this relationship. WS strengthens the association between GTL and GIWB and GKSB. GTA attenuates the GTL–CEP association but amplifies the GKSB–CEP pathway, highlighting the complementary nature of leadership‐related influence and technology‐enabled execution. We provide context‐specific evidence on environmental strategy in a less‐studied emerging economy and discuss how these relationships may support legitimacy and CEP.