From Human Capital to Human Purpose: Rethinking Executive Education for the Post-Growth Economy

The accelerating challenges of climate change, social inequality, and resource depletion are prompting a fundamental shift in economic paradigms—from growth-centric models to post-growth frameworks prioritizing sustainability, equity, and well-being. In this context, executive education faces increasing pressure to move beyond traditional human capital development focused narrowly on skills, productivity, and financial performance. This paper explores the urgent need to reorient executive education toward cultivating human purpose, integrating ethical leadership, systemic thinking, and sustainable innovation to prepare leaders for the complex demands of the post-growth economy. Through a mixed-methods study incorporating literature review, qualitative interviews with executive educators and corporate leaders, and case analyses of progressive programs, the research identifies significant gaps in existing curricula and pedagogical approaches. Results reveal limited incorporation of purpose-driven leadership and sustainability themes, constrained by entrenched growth oriented mindsets and curricular overload. Nonetheless, the study highlights promising innovations in experiential learning, values reflection, and systems thinking that foster deeper leader engagement with societal and ecological challenges.The paper proposes a comprehensive framework for redesigning executive education programs that centers human purpose and systemic awareness, equipping leaders to drive inclusive, ethical, and regenerative organizational practices. By aligning leadership development with the principles of the post-growth economy, executive education can significantly enhance leaders’ capacity to navigate complexity and contribute to sustainable futures. The study concludes with practical recommendations for institutions seeking to transform curricula, faculty expertise, and learning environments to support this critical evolution in leadership education.

کلیدواژه ها:

executive education ، human capital ، human purpose ، post-growth economy ، sustainable leadership.