Abstract
Corporate sustainability has become a strategic imperative for organizations, balancing economic viability with long-term social and environmental responsibilities. Although prior studies have highlighted the importance of leadership and knowledge management in organizational success, limited attention has been devoted to how knowledge-oriented leadership fosters corporate sustainability through knowledge processes, particularly within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies. Drawing on the Resource-Based View and Knowledge-Based View, this study examines the effect of knowledge-oriented leadership on corporate sustainability and the mediating role of knowledge processes. Data were collected from 351 managers of SMEs in Ghana and analyzed using Harman's single-factor test and partial least squares structural equation modeling. The findings reveal that knowledge-oriented leadership positively and significantly influences both corporate sustainability and knowledge processes. Knowledge processes were also found to significantly enhance corporate sustainability and partially mediate the relationship between knowledge-oriented leadership and corporate sustainability. By demonstrating how leadership-driven knowledge processes contribute to sustainable organizational outcomes, this study extends the sustainability literature and offers empirical evidence from the underexplored context of Ghanaian SMEs. The findings provide practical insights for managers and policymakers seeking to strengthen the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of SMEs through effective leadership and knowledge management practices.