Women in University Leadership: Profiles and Leadership Styles at a University in Northern Chile

This study examines the profile and leadership style of women in leadership positions at a university in northern Chile. This cross-sectional descriptive study combined institutional administrative records with self-reported MLQ Form 6S data from 45 of the 48 women occupying leadership positions at the institution, representing a response rate of 93.75%. Women occupy 45.7% of leadership roles; however, women’s representation remains low in several leadership categories, including the Rector’s Office, Vice-Rector’s Office, and school or department director positions. This pattern points to the persistence of vertical segregation in university governance. Among the women surveyed, high self-reported scores predominated across the four transformational dimensions and both transactional dimensions, whereas laissez-faire scores were predominantly moderate. The study highlights the coexistence of leadership styles within a context marked by persistent gender asymmetries and limited access for women to positions of greater authority and decision-making. Practically, the study supports targeted institutional measures to improve women’s representation in leadership categories where they remain underrepresented. Socially, it underscores the need to address persistent gender imbalances in higher education leadership.