Global Leadership in the Face of Backlash: Integrating Social Emotional Learning for Intercultural Understanding in Stakeholder Management

This qualitative study explores how global executives navigate international stakeholder demands during social backlash and how social and emotional learning can inform intercultural understanding in stakeholder management. Using social cognitive theory and interpretative phenomenological analysis, the study draws on semi-structured interviews with 11 global executives from four countries, three continents, and seven industries. Findings emphasize empathy, emotional intelligence, and listening as important for understanding stakeholder expectations; a global mindset characterized by cultural awareness and curiosity; and continual learning as a critical leadership capacity for navigating societal expectations across cultural contexts.