Date of Conferral
8-7-2026
Date of Award
August 2026
Degree
Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)
School
Management
Advisor
Theresa Neal
Abstract
Ineffective leadership transitions in for profit higher education erode employee morale, trust, and retention. Higher education business leaders recognize that ineffective leadership transitions can contribute to employee disengagement, reduced organizational commitment, and increased turnover, undermining institutional stability, workforce continuity, and organizational performance. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was to identify and explore the effective leadership strategies used by for-profit education institution leaders to retain key employees after a change in leadership. The participants were 10 leaders employed at for-profit higher education institutions in the southern United States who had successfully implemented leadership strategies during organizational transitions. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and a review of publicly available resources. Using thematic analysis, four themes were identified: (a) transparent and consistent communication during leadership transitions, (b) leadership support and recognition that promote employee engagement, (c) trust, inclusion, and organizational culture as factors influencing employee retention, and (d) collaboration. A key recommendation is for leaders in for-profit higher education institutions to implement transparent communication strategies and collaborative leadership approaches to strengthen employee trust and organizational commitment during periods of transition. The implications for positive social change include the potential for higher education leaders to implement effective leadership transition strategies that strengthen workplace relationships, improve employee well-being, and enhance organizational stability, thereby benefiting employees, students, families, and the broader community.
Recommended Citation
Keene, Kimberly, "Effective Leadership Strategies to Retain For-Profit Education Employees After a Leadership Change" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20600.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20600
