The Process of Spiritual Value Transfer: From Founder to Venture

It is well established that personal values significantly influence the purpose and direction of a new venture, particularly when the founder’s spiritual values are involved. While spirituality provides energy, passion, and meaning in both personal and professional life, the process through which these values transfer to the organisation remains unclear. Addressing this gap, my study asks: How do the founder’s spiritual values transfer to the venture? Guided by an interpretivist paradigm, the research adopts a qualitative case study approach, drawing on interviews with sixty founders and employees from Sri Lankan MSM social enterprises. The findings reveal that spiritual value transfer occurs through three processes: practising, fostering, and nurturing. These processes involve routine actions that align thoughts and behaviours with inner wellbeing. Sustained through empathy, collective engagement, and self-aware practices, this transfer transcends spatial and temporal boundaries, fostering inner growth and shaping behaviour, while offering a theoretical bridge between spirituality and management.