to leadership” (p. 1). Women may have indeed shattered the glass ceiling, but the pathways to the top leadership positions are not direct and often require a certain navigational savvy that incorporates emotional intelligence and political strategy. Above all, the journey requires an abundance of strength and endurance to confront and conquer each challenge that emerges along the path. Ballenger’s (2010) research consisted of a quantitative study of 35 women in administrative or executive leadership positions, and three themes emerged as common barriers for women who seek to achieve their leadership goals: lack of mentoring, good old boy network, and gender inequities. The culture of academia regarding leadership, tenure, and promotion, also exists as a barrier to advancement for women, along with family obligations. Madsen’s (2008) research of 10 female presidents revealed that gender was also a barrier, but did not prevent them from advancing in their careers. The difference in perspectives may be justified, in part, as a result of the difference between the women in Madsen’s (2008) study who found unintended success in achieving a presidency, and those who had eagerly sought leadership positions, but had not experienced the same success. Lack of Mentoring Duff (1999) asserted that “women need women as mentors because only women can truly empathize with the experience of being a woman” (p. 4). Duff also contended that a truly authentic female-to-female relationship fosters growth in confidence and strength, which supports the full realization of one’s potential. Although there has been some improvement, there are simply fewer women available to be mentors, thereby limiting access for women to benefit from these relationships.
I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me, and wait till the first dawning opens gradually, by little and little, into a full and clear light. — Isaac Newton CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION, DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS, AND REFLECTIONS The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which women presidents have experienced the phenomenon of resilience along their paths to the presidency. As a female leader in higher education aspiring to become a president, I have a personal interest in learning from the experiences of other women who have successfully ascended to the presidency. Gender inequity continues to exist in higher education leadership, despite the parity that exists among its students. Multiple studies have been conducted that reveal the gender gap that persists among college and university presidents; however, few studies focus on how women successfully overcome adversity and become presidents. I felt compelled to study women presidents to gain insight into their journeys and to reveal the source of their strength and determination. Discussion of the Findings The three dimensions of resilience constitute the essence of the phenomenon as experienced by the participants in this study: (a) resilience as a response to adversity, (b) resilience that shapes identity and the capacity for personal and professional success, and (c) resilience that enhances the meaning and purpose of the participants’ personal and
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