Exploring Female Leadership Globally Across Veterinary Medical Institutions: A Narrative Inquiry of Opportunities, Challenges, and Organizational Strategies

Despite the rapid feminization of the profession, in some regions in the world, women remain underrepresented in veterinary leadership roles worldwide. A similar trend is observed globally within veterinary medical institutions in which women are consistently underrepresented in senior leadership positions This highlights the importance of evaluating the continued gender inequity in academic advancement. This study employed a convenience sampling approach to recruit 33 women from eight geographical regions: the United States and Canada, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Continental Europe, and the United Kingdom and Ireland. All participants held leadership roles within veterinary education. The study aimed to explore the career paths of these women and to identify common themes, challenges, and regional differences in their leadership journeys. Participants took part in structured Zoom interviews that were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Three themes were identified and were centered on leadership, opportunities, and challenges. Female veterinary leaders described being motivated by beneficence and the desire to serve, develop others, and improve veterinary medical education despite persistent challenges related to gender, culture, limited financial support, and ongoing dependent-care demands. Although similarities and differences were noted across geographical regions, participants from Africa and Latin America reported heightened challenges linked to gender bias and cultural and societal expectations. The findings underscore the resilience of female veterinary leaders and highlight the need for continued research and initiatives to foster networks, enhance sponsorship opportunities, and establish formal leadership programs that address the complexities of leadership in veterinary medical education.