Identiteetin murros ja oppiminen johtajuuden kehityksessä — Laadullinen tutkimus johtajaidentiteetin kehityksen syklisestä prosessista konstruktiivis-kehityksellisestä ja kokemuksellisen oppimisen näkökulmasta

This study examines leader development as an identity-based process and explores experiential and motivational factors that influence leaders’ development trajectories throughout life. The study adopts a qualitative research design and is based on in-depth interviews with experienced Finnish leaders from multiple sectors, with a particular emphasis on the ICT industries. The theoretical framework integrates constructive-developmental theory, experiential and transformative learning theories, and research on leader development and identity into an analytical lens. Within this framework, motivation, experience, and learning orientations are conceptualized as forming a recursive cycle that guides growth. The findings demonstrate that leader development is a lifelong process of identity work that unfolds alongside broader adult development and continues into later career stages, including senior leadership. The analysis identifies experiences that were perceived as developmental due to their identity-disruptive nature, including transitions from expert roles to leadership positions, the challenge of balancing dual objectives of performance and people, organizational misalignment, and internal incongruence with leadership roles. The study constructs a typology of two distinct learning orientations that differ in their approach to learning, motivation, and identity construction. This study offers a more comprehensive understanding of leader development as an ongoing, contextually embedded process of identity evolution, highlighting the developmental potential of leaders throughout the career span and underscoring the importance of recognizing the diverse capabilities of senior leaders.