Purpose: Higher education institutions aim for the holistic development of students to cope with the changing global context. The present study aims to devise a model of leadership development among higher education students by validating the model conceptually and testing it empirically. Attributes of Spiritual Intelligence (SI) are empirically evaluated for leadership development post its conceptual validation. Design/methodology/approach: This article examined current theoretical frameworks and gaps in the literature. A total of 810 students were approached from Indian Higher education institutions for study. Data has been examined using the exploratory and then confirmatory factor analysis techniques to check the validity and reliability of the measuring instrument. Findings: The empirical findings confirm that the eight new spiritual intelligence attributes defined and validated through this study can have a significant impact on the leadership development of higher education students. Practical implications: Educational researchers have often found the construct of spiritual intelligence challenging to comprehend and implement in higher education institutions. The present study findings can be of great value to higher education institutions that will recognize the importance of spiritual values in holistic development including leadership development. Originality/value: This paper initiates and validate a universal set of attributes of spiritual intelligence in the higher education domain that can be useful for leadership development. The uniqueness of this paper lies in the fact that the eight new attributes of SI defined are easy to comprehend and practical to use in daily academic life, and can be used by HEIs students irrespective of their spiritual beliefs. A validated model at one university could be replicated at other universities in India and around the world, not only for students but also for educators and administrators as well.