Purpose: Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is rapidly entering the innovation ecosystem of today's organization. The purpose is to examine the important role of leadership, with respect to a strategic vision and organizational culture that foster a successful approach to AI-driven innovation.

Objectives:

1. To examine the influence of strategic vision on AI innovation outcomes.
2. To evaluate the role of organizational culture in fostering an environment conducive to AI implementation.
3. To analyse how the interaction between leadership vision and culture impacts the success of AI initiatives.

Methodology: The research was a mixed-methods design, where quantitative measurements were collected via structured surveys distributed across 120 mid and senior-level professionals from the IT, healthcare, and manufacturing industries, and qualitative data were collected from 15 semi-structured interviews. SPSS was used for the correlation and regression analysis, while NVivo supported the thematic coding for qualitative data.

Findings: The results demonstrate that both strategic vision and organizational culture impact the outcomes of AI-driven innovation. The study also revealed a combined effect between strategic vision and a culture of experimentation, learning, and psychological safety.

Original Contribution/Value: This study fills gap in leadership and innovation in AI contexts by investigating empirically the dual importance of vision and culture in the digital environment.

Implications of Study: The findings offer practical advice for leaders seeking to implement AI leaders. They should encourage the vision and leadership necessary for supporting their organization and adding strategic value