Awakenings: An authentic leadership development program to break the glass ceiling

Companies are vital agents in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. One key role that businesses can play in achieving the 5th Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality is implementing training programs for their women executives so they can reach top corporate leadershi...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Martínez Martínez, Miryam, Molina López, Manuel, Cabo, Ruth Mateos de, González Pérez, Susana, Izquierdo, Gregorio, Gabaldón, Patricia
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:IE
Repositorio:Repositorio IE
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.ie.edu:20.500.14417/3061
Acceso en línea:https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137476
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14417/3061
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85110277632&doi=10.3390%2fsu13137476&partnerID=40&md5=eee420ad9cd3f47a8d0509a7d7344a39
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Detection method
Gender
Leadership
Sustainable development
Sustainable Development Goal
Training
Authentic leadership
Authentic leadership development program
Glass ceiling
Women executives
63 Sociología::6309 Grupos Sociales::6309.09 Posición social de la mujer
ODS 5 - Igualdad de género
ODS 10 - Reducción de las desigualdades
Descripción
Sumario:Companies are vital agents in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. One key role that businesses can play in achieving the 5th Sustainable Development Goal on gender equality is implementing training programs for their women executives so they can reach top corporate leadership positions. In this paper,we test the effectiveness of an Authentic Leadership Development (ALD) program for women executives. By interviewing 32 participants from this ALD program and building on authentic leadership theory,we find that this program lifts women participants’ self-efficacy perception,as well as their self-resolution to take control of their careers. The driver for both results is a reflective thinking process elicited during the program that leads women to abandon the stereotype of a low status role and lack of self-direction over time. Through the relational authenticity developed during the program,women participants develop leadership styles that are more congenial with their gender group,yet highly accepted by the in-group leader members,which enhances their social capital. After the program,the women participants flourished as authentic leaders,were able to activate and foster their self-esteem and social capital,and enhanced their agency in career advancement,increasing their likelihood of breaking the glass ceiling. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI,Basel,Switzerland.