Determinants of Managerial Career Success: Evidence and Explanation of Male/Female Differences

This study of 292 mid-career managers tested for differential effects of four categories of career success determinants across the sexes. Human capital variables were hypothesized to have stronger effects on men’s objective and subjective components of success than on womens’. The findings provided support in the cases of work experience and company tenure. In contrast, gender roles were hypothesized and found to have stronger effects on both components of success for women. For supportive relationships including mentors and peer networks, the effects were hypothesized and found to be stronger for men on the objective component and the same for men and women on the subjective component. Lastly, family status variables were hypothesized to affect the objective component of success in opposite directions for men and women, and the subjective component similarly. The fndings showed no’differential effect of family status on either component.