Journey to senior leadership: Intersectional narratives from women in the leadership pipeline
Orientation: This study explores the factors influencing women’s progression to senior leadership positions, focusing on their experiences within South Africa’s financial services sector. Research purpose: The aim was to identify key elements that impact women’s advancement through the leadership p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-07-01
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| Series: | SA Journal of Human Resource Management |
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| Online Access: | https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/3014 |
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| author | Vamisile Mbatha Michele Ruiters |
| author_facet | Vamisile Mbatha Michele Ruiters |
| author_sort | Vamisile Mbatha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Orientation: This study explores the factors influencing women’s progression to senior leadership positions, focusing on their experiences within South Africa’s financial services sector.
Research purpose: The aim was to identify key elements that impact women’s advancement through the leadership pipeline.
Motivation for the study: Despite growing gender diversity initiatives, women remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles. Understanding barriers from the perspective of women in middle management offers valuable insights into addressing this gap, particularly in a multicultural context like South Africa.
Research approach/design and method: The study employed a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with 14 women – 12 from middle management and two from senior executive levels. Thematic analysis was used to extract themes from participants’ shared experiences.
Main findings: Four main themes emerged: organisational culture, leadership, intersectionality and emerging issues such as sponsorship and expectations from senior female leaders. Participants noted that organisational practices and leadership behaviours often impeded their progression. Additionally, socio-demographic factors – especially motherhood and marital status – created further barriers, revealing how intersecting identities influence leadership advancement.
Practical/managerial implications: Organisations must reconsider their leadership development strategies to ensure they are inclusive and supportive of women. Optimising leadership pipeline practices and addressing cultural and gender dynamics are essential for enabling women’s advancement.
Contribution/value-add: The study applies leadership pipeline theory in a South African multicultural setting, uncovering new intersections between organisational culture and gender. It enhances understanding of the complex factors hindering women’s leadership progression and offers guidance for more equitable talent development practices. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b41a1c1e10a24466bba59e37c898b97c |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1683-7584 2071-078X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SA Journal of Human Resource Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-b41a1c1e10a24466bba59e37c898b97c2025-08-04T09:27:13ZengAOSISSA Journal of Human Resource Management1683-75842071-078X2025-07-01230e1e1110.4102/sajhrm.v23i0.3014915Journey to senior leadership: Intersectional narratives from women in the leadership pipelineVamisile Mbatha0Michele Ruiters1Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, JohannesburgGordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, JohannesburgOrientation: This study explores the factors influencing women’s progression to senior leadership positions, focusing on their experiences within South Africa’s financial services sector. Research purpose: The aim was to identify key elements that impact women’s advancement through the leadership pipeline. Motivation for the study: Despite growing gender diversity initiatives, women remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles. Understanding barriers from the perspective of women in middle management offers valuable insights into addressing this gap, particularly in a multicultural context like South Africa. Research approach/design and method: The study employed a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with 14 women – 12 from middle management and two from senior executive levels. Thematic analysis was used to extract themes from participants’ shared experiences. Main findings: Four main themes emerged: organisational culture, leadership, intersectionality and emerging issues such as sponsorship and expectations from senior female leaders. Participants noted that organisational practices and leadership behaviours often impeded their progression. Additionally, socio-demographic factors – especially motherhood and marital status – created further barriers, revealing how intersecting identities influence leadership advancement. Practical/managerial implications: Organisations must reconsider their leadership development strategies to ensure they are inclusive and supportive of women. Optimising leadership pipeline practices and addressing cultural and gender dynamics are essential for enabling women’s advancement. Contribution/value-add: The study applies leadership pipeline theory in a South African multicultural setting, uncovering new intersections between organisational culture and gender. It enhances understanding of the complex factors hindering women’s leadership progression and offers guidance for more equitable talent development practices.https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/3014leadershippipelineintersectionalityunderrepresentationcareer progressionorganisational culture |
| spellingShingle | Vamisile Mbatha Michele Ruiters Journey to senior leadership: Intersectional narratives from women in the leadership pipeline SA Journal of Human Resource Management leadership pipeline intersectionality underrepresentation career progression organisational culture |
| title | Journey to senior leadership: Intersectional narratives from women in the leadership pipeline |
| title_full | Journey to senior leadership: Intersectional narratives from women in the leadership pipeline |
| title_fullStr | Journey to senior leadership: Intersectional narratives from women in the leadership pipeline |
| title_full_unstemmed | Journey to senior leadership: Intersectional narratives from women in the leadership pipeline |
| title_short | Journey to senior leadership: Intersectional narratives from women in the leadership pipeline |
| title_sort | journey to senior leadership intersectional narratives from women in the leadership pipeline |
| topic | leadership pipeline intersectionality underrepresentation career progression organisational culture |
| url | https://sajhrm.co.za/index.php/sajhrm/article/view/3014 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vamisilembatha journeytoseniorleadershipintersectionalnarrativesfromwomenintheleadershippipeline AT micheleruiters journeytoseniorleadershipintersectionalnarrativesfromwomenintheleadershippipeline |