Purpose: The study aimed to explore the role of strategic leadership in driving public sector reforms in Mozambique, focusing on how leadership practices influence reform implementation, employee engagement, and institutional performance.

Methodology/Design: A qualitative research approach was adopted under a constructivist paradigm. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 30 key public sector officials, including senior managers, department heads, and policy implementers. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants with direct involvement in reform initiatives. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, ensuring reliability through consistent interview protocols and validity through member checking and triangulation with policy documents and prior studies.

Findings: The study revealed that strategic leadership positively shapes reform outcomes through visionary guidance, participatory decision-making, and effective resource allocation. Additionally, leadership practices significantly influenced employee engagement and institutional performance via open communication, recognition, capacity building, and performance monitoring.

Implications: Findings suggest that effective strategic leadership is crucial for enhancing both the success of public sector reforms and employee commitment, offering practical guidance for policymakers and public sector managers to strengthen reform initiatives.