Aspire to build an ethical and sustainable organization? Renew thyself!

Purpose This paper aims to discuss the concept of building sustainable organizations through focusing on continuous self-transcendence towards positive leadership traits, and how this effects the strategic leadership capabilities. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the insights drawn from an in-depth hermeneutic-interpretive study of an ancient philosophical text. Findings Leaders at apex should lead organizations focusing on self-development. It is seen that several aspects of one’s choices and conduct in personal and professional life influence his/her self-development process. One who is able to follow the conduct discussed builds superior strategic capabilities leading to creation of more caring-compassionate-ethical-and-value-driven organizations. Practical implications Practicing managers aspiring to build ethical organizations should concentrate on self-development through self-transcendence as an important tool to influence the organizational level positive outcomes rather than only controlling others to effect such outcomes. Originality/value This papers integrates the contemporary thoughts on strategic leadership, ethical leadership and authentic leadership with ancient wisdom of influencing positive institutional outcomes through top leaders focusing on continuous self-transcendence – rather than focusing on others and coercing others to comply.