Conscious systemic leadership as embodied in the lifeworks of Vandana Shiva

Purpose This paper introduces conscious systemic leadership (CSL) as a new theoretical framework for the management and spirituality scholarly field. It aims to address two gaps: the field’s over-reliance on Western philosophical traditions and its individualistic model of leadership. By drawing on Shiva consciousness, complexity theory and quantum ontology, the paper proposes a spiritually grounded consciousness-based model of leadership relevant to contemporary organisational challenges. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses a conceptual-theoretical approach, synthesising Hindu philosophy (Kashmir Shaivism), quantum physics and complexity theory to construct the CSL framework. It then grounds the framework empirically through an illustrative case study of Vandana Shiva (Indian ecofeminist, physicist and founder of Navdanya) examining how her documented lifeworks embody CSL’s principles across individual, team, organisational, platform and ecosystem dimensions of management practice. Findings CSL is presented as a distinctive theoretical contribution to management scholarship, offering a consciousness-based leadership ontology rooted in a non-Western living tradition. The paper demonstrates, through Vandana Shiva’s lifeworks, that consciousness-based values can manifest coherently across all five domains of management practice. It also argues that quantum principles are not merely metaphorical but are embedded in the Shaiva tradition, enriching existing theory with deeper philosophical and practical resources for understanding transformative, systemic leadership. Originality/value This research offers significant value by expanding the theoretical vocabulary of management and spirituality scholarship beyond its predominantly Western foundations. By introducing Shiva consciousness and Kashmir Shaivism as legitimate ontological resources, it enriches leadership theory with centuries-tested, non-Western wisdom. It also bridges the gap between metaphysical depth and practical organisational application, offering scholars, practitioners and policymakers a consciousness-based framework for addressing complex, systemic challenges – ecological, social and institutional – that conventional leadership models have struggled to resolve.