The Symbiosis of Machines and Empathy: How Human-Centric AI Leadership Drives Sustainable Organizational Excellence

Juni Suryanadi (Buddhist Business and Management Department, Jinarakkhita Buddhist College of Lampung, Indonesia)
Oktabriyantina Wulan (Department of Economics and Development Studies, Faculty of Economics and Business, Diponegoro University, Indonesia)
Hamdan Daniel (Innovative University College, Selangor, Malaysia)

Journal of Economic, Religious, and Entrepreneurship (JoERE)
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): JOERE June 2026

This study aims to analyze the effect of Human-Centric AI Leadership on Sustainable Organizational Excellence, examine the effect of Human-Centric AI Leadership on Empathy, analyze the effect of Empathy on Sustainable Organizational Excellence, and investigate the mediating role of Empathy in the relationship between Human-Centric AI Leadership and Sustainable Organizational Excellence. This study employed a quantitative approach using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The research population consisted of employees working in organizations implementing digital transformation and AI-based systems, with a total sample of 223 respondents selected through purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected through the distribution of structured questionnaires using a five-point Likert scale and analyzed using SmartPLS 3 software. The results indicate that Human-Centric AI Leadership has a positive and significant effect on both Sustainable Organizational Excellence and Empathy. Furthermore, Empathy also has a positive and significant effect on Sustainable Organizational Excellence and significantly mediates the relationship between Human-Centric AI Leadership and Sustainable Organizational Excellence.