Research confirms leadership's significant influence on employee retention and satisfaction via effective communication, fostering relationships that impact performance and loyalty. This study analyzes leadership styles in two Iraqi private universities, using quantitative methods and SPSS 26. Results show autocratic leadership dominance at (A) university and democratic leadership at (B) university, leading to substantial differences in employee job satisfaction. In summary, autocratic leadership negatively affects job satisfaction at (A) university, while democratic leadership positively impacts (B) university.