Women leadership effectiveness: competitive factors and subjective and objective qualities

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify the competitive factors that contribute to leadership effectiveness for women. I posed two research questions: How do women lead? And what are their competitive factors and leadership qualities? I used an instrumental cases approach to investigate the top 10 women CEOs leading Fortune 500 companies in 2021 and better understand how competitive factors and subjective and objective leadership qualities may drive women leadership effectiveness. Using an explanatory mixed-method design, I analyzed quantitative data about the profitability of these leaders’ organizations and secondary qualitative data of their own words regarding their competitive factors. Study results highlight women leaders’ competitive factors, which are grouped into soft and hard competitive advantages, as well as the subjective and objective qualities that contribute to the effectiveness of women’s leadership.

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