Abstract:

This dissertation explores the phenomenon of becoming a consciousness leader within a business environment. Consciousness leaders are people who have evolved to postconventional levels of interior development and are engaged in globally sustainable wealth creation for the benefit of all. The present research employs Ken Wilber's All Quadrant All Lines (AQAL) map of consciousness and the newly designed qualitative method named heuristic structuralism. The nature, meaning, and cause of transformative experiences of 8 female and 8 male top business executives is investigated along with the structural impact over time. The research question is the following: What are the most significant emotional, physical, cognitive, spiritual, or other extraordinary experiences that characterize the interior transformation of consciousness leaders within a capitalistic environment? The research results have multiple dimensions and include (a) the evolutionary journey of becoming a consciousness leader; (b) the lines of development involved in the transformation including the egoic, cognitive, emotional, physical, moral, and psycho-spiritual; and (c) the potential structural changes that occurred over the course of transformation. It can be expected that the exploration of becoming a consciousness leader will not only reveal the interiority of exceptional leaders, but it will support a paradigm shift in leadership, business, and capitalism in general. This understanding will also provide encouragement, inspiration, and hope to those who are actively involved with wealth creation in a business environment as well as to those who struggle to live a life of meaning within the same context.