Understanding the intersection of women’s commitments and career advancement in their corporate leadership

Women's leadership in both the corporate and public sectors is still disproportionately small, which might be due to the barriers to combining work and family. This research investigates how women can develop the skills they need to succeed as they climb the leadership ladder. First, to identify the factors that encourage women to become leaders at the beginning of their careers, and second, to balance the commitment of women in leadership positions with their personal lives. The present study used an abductive approach by analysing data from semi-structured interviews with eight women leaders from the corporate sector. The findings highlight the need for women to have specific skills and competencies to take on more prominent roles in the workplace, particularly through their continued development and networking with other women leaders in terms of mentorship, sponsorship, and advice. The themes are communication skills, networking, going the extra mile, critical thinking and grit. Women balance their commitment and professional ambition for career growth by protecting their me-time, prioritizing, working on realistic goals, and having a support system. They do perceive that balancing both commitment and career advancement is unrealistic. This study will add to the existing knowledge and improve the competencies of women in leadership in the public sector.