Phu Nguyen An

This study examines the impact of authentic leadership on job satisfaction in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam, focusing on the mediating role of psychological empowerment and the moderating effect of organizational culture. A survey of 638 employees in the trade and service sectors in Ho Chi Minh City was conducted, and structural equation modeling was used for analysis. The findings reveal that authentic leadership positively influences psychological empowerment (β = 0.195, p < 0.001). Further, this factor also impacts job satisfaction both directly (β = 0.364, p < 0.001) and indirectly through psychological empowerment (β = 0.459, p < 0.001). Psychological empowerment significantly enhances job satisfaction (β = 0.424, p < 0.001), while organizational culture moderates the relationship between authentic leadership and job satisfaction (β = 0.234, p < 0.001). These results underscore the importance of transparent, ethical, and empowering leadership in fostering a supportive workplace environment. The study contributes to understanding leadership dynamics in non-Western, collectivist cultures and provides practical insights for improving employee satisfaction in Vietnamese SMEs.