Women Leaders Research Articles

Women’s Leadership in Fintech: Cross-Country Evidence

Abstract This paper provides key insights into women’s representation in the fintech industry, and descriptively examines the association between female leadership and firm performance in this industry. Using novel data from fintech firms in over 80 countries, we find that women leaders in this industry remain scarce. Our analysis reveals that firms founded by women are associated with lower firm performance as measured by their estimated revenue and funding acquired, especially for small firms. On the other hand, there is a positive association between gender diversity in executive board and firm performance, especially for mid-to-large sized firms.

Women as leaders: unpacking the perceptions of gender, trust, and organizational performance

The purpose of this paper is to explore how gender influences the perceptions of women as leaders, and how those affect the relationship between organizational trust and perceptions of the firm’s performance. Results from Latin America and the United States samples show that the more positive the perception of women leaders, the stronger the relationship between trust and performance. These results are important because they provide additional support for enhancing leadership diversity and increasing trust. In particular, they suggest that firms that build strong organizational trust and create leadership diversity by having more women leaders may be associated with more positive perceptions of organizational performance.

Communication Skills and Empowerment of Rural Women

Objective: To determine the relationship between communication skills and the empowerment of women farmers located in the Puno region, Peru. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical basis focuses on communication skills and women's empowerment. Communication skills refer to an individual's ability to express their thoughts, needs, feelings, desires, and concerns using oral and written language, which serve as tools to facilitate interaction among participants involved in communication. Women's empowerment is the process through which women increase their capacity to shape their own lives and environments, manifested in different ways: a sense of security, economic participation, political involvement, leadership, and decision-making. Methodology: The methodology is based on a quantitative correlational research approach, with a non-experimental and cross-sectional design. The sample was census-based and consisted of 40 women leaders representing the rural communities of the Human Rights and Environment Association. Results: There is a moderately positive and significant correlation between communication skills and women's empowerment (r = 0.53), with a p-value < 0.05. This indicates that as communication skills develop, women's empowerment improves, giving them greater opportunities to participate in politics, the economy, and decision-making, which contributes to improving their family and local lifestyle.

Examining representation of women in leadership of professional medical associations in India.

Women constitute 70% of the global health workforce but are significantly underrepresented in leadership positions. In India, professional medical associations (PMAs) play a crucial role in shaping policy agenda in the health sector, but very little is known about gender diversity in their leadership. Therefore, we analysed the gender representation of current and past leaderships of Indian PMAs. Data of the current and past national leadership and leadership committees of 46 leading PMAs representing general, specialities, and super-specialities were extracted from their official websites. Gender composition of leadership was analysed using a sequential approach. For Indian Medical Association (IMA), the largest Indian PMA, an analysis of its 32 sub-chapters was also undertaken. The findings revealed that only 9 (19.5%) out of 46 associations are currently led by a woman. Leadership committees of half the associations have less than 20% women, while there were no women in the central committee of nine PMAs. Among past presidents, information was publicly available for 31 associations and all of them have had less than 20% of women presidents till date. Among the 64 individuals currently serving as presidents and secretaries of 32 sub-chapters of IMA, only three (4.6%) are women. Even in associations closely related to women's health, such as obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and neonatology, unequal representation persists, highlighting male dominance. These results demonstrate significant gender disparities in PMA leadership in India, necessitating urgent efforts to promote gender equality. Gender-transformative leadership is crucial to develop gender-sensitive health care policies and practices which can serve as a catalyst for broader societal change.

Impact of Gender Role Attitudes and Gender Differences on the Evaluation of Female Leaders: Insights from a Survey of Japanese University Students

Women’s active participation in society is desirable. However, it has not increased sufficiently in contemporary Japan, where the ratio of women decision-makers in politics and corporations is low, and gender inequality persists. One reason for this could be people’s negative perception of female leaders. This study focused on female managers as female leaders. It examined whether people’s gender-role attitudes might affect their attitudes about female leaders and whether these attitudes might differ depending on people’s sex (males or females). We administered a collective-style questionnaire survey to university students (N=107, 46 men and 61 women, mean age=20.11, SD=1.04) in Japan. We adopted a three-way between-subjects survey design; gender-role attitudes (traditional or equal) x managers (male condition or female condition) x participants’ sex (male or female). The results indicated that the participants’ gender-role attitudes had a more substantial effect on evaluating female managers than the participants’ gender. People with liberal gender-role attitudes had a highly positive perception of female leaders, whereas those with traditional gender-role attitudes considered female leaders more strictly. The results of this study indicated that gender-role attitudes do not affect the assessment of male leaders, suggesting that individual values might not affect the evaluation of male leaders. In contrast, these variables affected the assessment of female leaders. Therefore, we concluded that gender-role attitudes are essential for promoting the psychological acceptance of women leaders, which suggests the need to develop personnel with egalitarian gender-role attitudes to increase and popularize women managers in Japanese society.

Explaining leadership quality among the directors of Mexico’s subnational women’s policy agencies

ABSTRACT This article examines the effectiveness of women’s policy agencies (WPAs), with a focus on the leadership of subnational women’s institutes in the Mexican states. We contribute to the existing research with a new original dataset on WPAs in an important third-wave democracy in Latin America. Our focus on leadership quality provides a useful method for measuring one central component of institutional effectiveness across a large number of cases. We consider high-quality leaders to be those with longer tenure in office and higher levels of education, more professional experience, and closer connections to the feminist movement. Using a dataset of 226 directors, we find evidence that party ideology, electoral competition, and the institutional design of the agency influence the quality of leadership. Moreover, states with stronger women’s movements have higher-quality leadership in their WPAs. These findings support a central premise of the state feminism literature – that WPAs are most effective when allied with strong women’s movements and left-wing governments – and also point to the importance of electoral democracy in promoting institutional effectiveness.

Why Women Exit Politics: The Case of Two Grassroots Activists in a Slum in New Delhi

This article investigates why it is so difficult for women to succeed in politics in India, and it analyses this from a grassroots perspective in a slum in New Delhi. Based on longitudinal ethnographic research, I explore and compare in-depth the political trajectories of two women activists and examine why, despite being successful leaders of women and allied with male political ‘godfathers’, they have ended up leaving grassroots activism altogether. I show that both women were first pulled into political activism by NGOs working on women’s empowerment, that both later allied with male politicians to help draw ‘the women’s vote’ and that both women’s respective success largely rested on their concern with so-called women’s causes. However, neither of them was able to build up their own patronage networks, which is necessary to gain an independent political standing in politics. They remained dependent on their male political mentors and on family support; losing one or both of these instigated their respective exits from activism and politics.

The Level of Happiness and Its Relationship with Personal and Occupational Well-Being in Women Leaders at a Mexican University: An Exploratory Study

This exploratory study aims to identify the state of well-being of a select group of women leaders in a Mexican university by analyzing the relationship between their perception of happiness and their satisfaction with their life and work. Through the application of a psychometric battery, this work examined how these leaders manage their well-being within an environment that is simultaneously empowering and demanding. Methodologically, a descriptive statistical analysis was performed, including a correlation analysis of all items. As a result, the research identified positive correlations between the variables age and positive perceptions of work and life, which are strongly associated with high personal and professional satisfaction. In addition, people who find their work rewarding and feel that their life is close to their ideal tend to be more satisfied in general. Although this study intended to be exploratory, it also sought to contribute a deeper understanding of the well-being status of women in university leadership positions in Mexico. In doing so, it filled an important gap in the literature on gender, leadership, and well-being in Latin American academia by highlighting the complexity of managing and supporting women in leadership positions.

Negotiating farm femininity in agricultural leadership

A growing number of women in the Canadian Prairie region are advancing into leadership roles in agriculture, which remains a predominantly male domain. In this research we explore how professionally and managerially employed women in agriculture in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta navigate being a leader in an industry characterized by rural hegemonic masculinity. We explore and examine the personal experiences and observations of these women regarding gender, leadership, and the current state of prairie agriculture as it grapples with being more inclusive, diverse, and equitable. We found that to gain legitimacy as a leader in agriculture women are enacting a complex mix of traditional femininity, anti-affirmative action, and masculine-coded farm credibility. Women are required to be both like a man and like a woman to differentiate themselves—both from men and from one another—as they navigate both similarity and difference in their gender performance. Expanding on the work of Mavin and Grandy’s (2016) work on respectable business femininity, we have conceptualized this performance as “respectable farm femininity” to reflect the specific experiences, and previously unexplored domain of women in agricultural leadership (outside of the on-farm contexts that make up the scholarship in this area). These expectations are rooted in more traditional constructions of rural, hegemonic masculinity, but carry important weight in conferring legitimacy to women in agricultural leadership. This has important implications for how women are able to carve out their career path on the way to leadership.

Negotiating farm femininity in agricultural leadership

A growing number of women in the Canadian Prairie region are advancing into leadership roles in agriculture, which remains a predominantly male domain. In this research we explore how professionally and managerially employed women in agriculture in the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta navigate being a leader in an industry characterized by rural hegemonic masculinity. We explore and examine the personal experiences and observations of these women regarding gender, leadership, and the current state of prairie agriculture as it grapples with being more inclusive, diverse, and equitable. We found that to gain legitimacy as a leader in agriculture women are enacting a complex mix of traditional femininity, anti-affirmative action, and masculine-coded farm credibility. Women are required to be both like a man and like a woman to differentiate themselves—both from men and from one another—as they navigate both similarity and difference in their gender performance. Expanding on the work of Mavin and Grandy’s (2016) work on respectable business femininity, we have conceptualized this performance as “respectable farm femininity” to reflect the specific experiences, and previously unexplored domain of women in agricultural leadership (outside of the on-farm contexts that make up the scholarship in this area). These expectations are rooted in more traditional constructions of rural, hegemonic masculinity, but carry important weight in conferring legitimacy to women in agricultural leadership. This has important implications for how women are able to carve out their career path on the way to leadership.

The Influence of Women's Leadership Style and Work Motivation on the Performance of Police Personnel in the Legal Work Unit of the West Sumatra Regional Police Force

This study aims to analyze the Effect of Style Leadership and Work Motivation on the Performance of Police Personnel in the Legal Division work unit of the West Sumatra Regional Police. The method used in this research is a quantitative method with a descriptive approach, the research sample is 26 personnel of the Legal Division of the West Sumatra Regional Police. Data analysis was carried out using instrument tests through SPSS Version 29 for windows software to check the validity and reliability of the data. The results of data analysis show that the variable female leadership style does not have a significant effect on personnel performance, this is evidenced by the results of the hypothesis test obtained a significance value of 0.468 > 0.05 and tcount 0.739 ≤ ttabel 2.064. The results of this study also show that work motivation variables have a significant effect on personnel performance with a significance value of 0.001 < 0.05 and tcount 4.223 ≥ ttabel 2.064. Through the simultaneous hypothesis test (f test), it shows that the female leadership style and work motivation have an effect on personnel performance with a significance value of Sig 0.001 < 0.05 and the value of fcount 10.159 > ftabel 3.420.

Empowering women in central banking

ABSTRACT When are women appointed to the board of central banks? While progressive societal gender norms may facilitate women's ascension to leadership positions, recent research indicates that women are more likely to assume leadership positions during crisis periods. Because of the widely documented 'male dominance' in the policy domain of central banking, analyzing changes in women's descriptive representation on central bank boards provides a unique laboratory to study the role of women in economic policymaking. Building on previous literature on women's political leadership, we argue that sovereign debt crises are powerful catalysts for lifting women into leadership positions. We hypothesize that appointing women to central bank leadership positions during sovereign financial distress signals a policy change to bolster monetary policy credibility. Using data covering 90 countries from 2000 to 2017, we show that women are more likely to be appointed to central bank leadership positions during a sovereign debt crisis. A sovereign debt crisis increases the likelihood of women’s appointments to a central bank board by 21.1 percent. To mitigate concerns that our results are spurious, we implement a battery of robustness checks. Our study suggests that women's empowerment can be beneficial in restoring monetary policy credibility during sovereign financial distress.

How Women in Leadership are Influenced by and Influence Their Social Environments

How Women in Leadership are Influenced by and Influence Their Social Environments

Women Leaders and Organization Innovation: A Meta-Analytic Review

Women Leaders and Organization Innovation: A Meta-Analytic Review

Penerapan Model Kirkpatrick dalam Evaluasi Program Pelatihan Kepemimpinan Perempuan di Pusat Pengembangan Sumber Daya Wanita Pasoendan Digdaya

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to evaluate how participants responded to the women's Leadership Training Program held by the Pasoendan Digdaya women's Resource Development Center (PPSW) in Lebak regency, Banten. To measure participants ' satisfaction with the training program, this evaluation used the Kirkpatrick reaction Level Model.Method – This study was designed to use descriptive qualitative methods. Data were collected through interviews with 10 trainees. The questionnaire addresses various things, such as the relevance of the material, instructor performance, and training facilities. To determine the level of satisfaction of participants, descriptive was used to analyze the data.Findings – The results indicated that participants were generally satisfied with the training program. The training and consumption schedules have been adjusted to meet the needs of the trainees, and the material presented is considered relevant and applicable. However, the instructor is considered to have strong presentation skills. Additionally, the media and facilities used received positive responses, although there are some suggestions for improvements. Research Implications – Providing women with leadership opportunities significantly advances gender equality by ensuring equal access for both women and men. The findings indicate that while the overall training program effectively meets participants' needs, there is room for improvement in the facilitators' skills and the customization of training materials. It is recommended that PPSW Pasoendan Digdaya enhance facilitator competencies and tailor training content more closely to the specific needs of the participants. This study also highlights the potential for further research into effective teaching methods to bolster women's leadership capabilities.

Do Voters Vote For Female Leaders in the General Election in 2024?

The study aimed to obtain empirical data regarding public perceptions related to female leadership and public acceptance of female presidential candidates in 2024, considering that the previous female leadership were not accepted. The research approach used was quantitative, using surveys. The survey was conducted in 34 provinces in Indonesia. The results of the research showed that women tend to support female candidates as leaders, while some men were still doubtful of women’s abilities as leaders. The younger generation was more open to women as leaders, while the older generation was more conservative. Support for female candidates was also associated with higher earnings. The potential to overcome gender stereotypes and old norms emerges through shifting the views of the younger generation, increasing gender awareness and better education. In conclusion, society’s view of women in leadership is influenced by gender, age, and economy. Efforts to change this view are important for achieving gender equality and assessing leaders based on quality and potential, independent of gender. Keywords: Perception; Leaders; Women; 2024 General Election

Women, agriculture, and villages: A community of empowerment study to achieve wellbeing and sustainable development

Background: The women farmers play a crucial role in Indonesian villages. It needs the empowerment model for addressing the challenges and opportunities so the women farmers can increase her capacity especially in the agriculture system and family quality. By this condition we conduct research that focuses on the process of empowerment to achieve wellbeing and sustainable development. Method: Data drawing on a literature review, best practices, and real-life narratives. Findings: The data shows that despite their significant contribution to agriculture, women farmers are facing a lack of resources like land, credit, and information. Social norms build can relegate them to less demanding tasks, while decision-making power frequently resides with men. These persistent gender biases hinder their full potential and limit their agency. The narrative analysis reveals the remarkable resilience of women farmers. They manage their farms efficiently, innovate to adapt to changing circumstances, and find purpose and well-being through their work. The stories showcase their crucial role in rural economies and their capacity to overcome limitations. The research identifies key areas to empower women farmers and achieve sustainable development. Conclusions: Investing in their well-being through access to healthcare, childcare, and financial security empowers them to invest in themselves and their families. Promoting sustainable practices through training programs equips them with the tools to nurture the land for future generations. Fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration creates a network for innovation and best practices to flourish. Finally, breaking down gender barriers and promoting women's leadership in agriculture is crucial for achieving true empowerment and a more equitable future. By prioritizing the well-being of women farmers and fostering sustainable practices, we can create a virtuous cycle. Empowered women farmers contribute to a more secure and nourishing future, not just for themselves and their families, but for the entire community and the environment they sustain. Investing in women farmers is an investment in a future where well-being and sustainability go hand in hand. Novelty/Originality of this Study: This study employs a multi-faceted approach to empower rural women farmers in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. By integrating qualitative data from in-depth interviews and document analysis, it uncovers the intricate interplay between gender, agriculture, and rural development. Ultimately, the research highlights the critical role of tailored empowerment strategies in enhancing the economic, social, and environmental resilience of these women.

Empowering Women Leadership Through Community Mobilization to Prevent Early Marriage

This qualitative research study explored the impact of early marriages on women in Malang Regency and examined strategies for preventing such marriages by empowering women. Utilizing data collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGD), the research investigated the complex web of social, economic, and generational consequences resulting from child marriages in rural areas. The study highlights the significant role played by Women’s Leadership Houses (RKP) in the Singosari and Karangploso regions, where community mobilization is employed to foster gender equality and empower women. RKP’s community engagement approach allows members to dissect the underlying factors driving early marriages and adolescent interactions within their communities. The research uncovered a diverse range of issues associated with early unions, each uniquely shaped by the local environment. RKP’s methodology places a strong emphasis on problem identification and potential recognition, encompassing human and natural resources while challenging prevailing social norms that perpetuate early marriages. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of empowering women and promoting gender equality as key strategies in preventing early marriages. Through qualitative research methods and community engagement via FGDs, we can aspire to create a future where early marriages become a historical relic and women attain the agency and opportunities they rightfully deserve. Keywords: Early Marriage; Women Empowerment; Community Mobi-lization; Gender Equality

Adaptive Strategies in E-commerce: the Role of Gender Dynamics, Consumer Preferences, and Technological Advancements among Filwin Members

The expansion of e-commerce globally has fundamentally altered consumer preferences and business strategies. This study investigates these shifts by focusing on the Filipino Women Inventors and Innovators Network (FILWIN), which includes diverse leaders such as entrepreneurs, academics, scientists, and government officials from various sectors in the Philippines. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative data from surveys with qualitative insights gathered through open-ended questions, interviews, and focus group discussions with FILWIN members. This methodology allows for a comprehensive analysis of how these women leaders adapt to the evolving market demands and leverage innovative strategies in their respective fields. Although the study predominantly focuses on FILWIN members, which may limit its broader applicability, it underscores the necessity for extensive interdisciplinary research across diverse professional fields. The results are crucial for policymakers and industry leaders, providing them with valuable insights to promote gender inclusivity and foster innovation in the digital economy. This research provides original insights into the experiences of a unique yet understudied group of female leaders and enriches our understanding of gender dynamics in technological and social innovation, offering a solid foundation for further scholarly and practical explorations.

Women at the top: a qualitative study of women in leadership positions in emergency medicine in Canada.

For the last two decades, more than half of Canadian medical students have been women, with an increasing number of medical trainees choosing emergency medicine as their careers. Despite a proportional increase of women in full-time faculty positions in emergency medicine, women are still underrepresented in leadership. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of women leaders in emergency medicine to identify common themes that may have contributed to their acquisition of leadership roles. Participants included women emergency medicine physicians in Canada who currently or previously held a leadership position. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was performed on the interview transcripts. Transcribed data were coded and categorized into recurrent themes. A narrative summary of the most impactful themes was presented. Twenty participants were interviewed. Most participants perceived career opportunities were due to chance, related to personal skill set, or required additional training. Participants highlighted the importance of mentorship and sponsorship. Gender expectations and traditional gender roles were perceived as having a negative impact on career leadership success. Participants acknowledged the need for women in leadership to empower younger generations of women to become leaders. For future emergency medicine leaders, participants suggested applying for leadership positions early, networking, and seeking mentorship. Potential supportive changes to leadership structures included explicit parental leave policies, flexible scheduling, and job sharing to encourage women leaders. To date, there has been no Canadian specific study exploring the factors contributing to the success of women leaders in emergency medicine. This study examines career advancement of women leaders in emergency medicine and provides useful insight to those aspiring to grow their careers, as well as to mentors and sponsors of women in emergency medicine.