Panagiota Tragantzopoulou, Kyriaki Kourantzinou, Eleni Rizou and Aikaterini Tragantzopoulou 2025. Leadership, Gender, and Organizational Change: Voices of Women Leaders in Greece. Administrative Sciences. 15 (11), p. 445. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15110445
| Title | Leadership, Gender, and Organizational Change: Voices of Women Leaders in Greece |
|---|---|
| Type | Journal article |
| Authors | Panagiota Tragantzopoulou, Kyriaki Kourantzinou, Eleni Rizou and Aikaterini Tragantzopoulou |
| Abstract | Despite growing evidence that diverse leadership enhances decision-making and innovation, little is known about how gendered expectations and structural barriers intersect to shape women’s leadership experiences in Greece. This qualitative study draws on semi-structured interviews with sixteen (N = 16) senior women leaders across healthcare and other professional sectors. The data are analyzed using thematic analysis to explore how participants navigate stereotypes, microaggressions, and work–life integration challenges. Findings reveal a core mechanism of gendered constraint in which structural barriers and interpersonal dynamics shape leadership enactment. These dynamics are mitigated through strategies such as mentorship, boundary setting, and inclusive practices. A central contribution of the study is the proposed Leadership Recognition and Resilience (LRR) framework, which conceptualizes the dynamic interplay between leadership purpose, recognition, and gendered constraints and highlights how adaptive strategies sustain agency, well-being, and organizational influence. The study extends role-congruity theory by introducing the concept of a glass acknowledgment ceiling, a subtle form of gendered resistance that limits recognition and authority even after women attain leadership positions. These findings underscore the importance of systemic reforms, culturally sensitive leadership development, and supportive networks to sustain women’s leadership and advance genuine gender equity in organizational contexts. |
| Journal | Administrative Sciences |
| Journal citation | 15 (11), p. 445 |
| ISSN | 2076-3387 |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Publisher's version | License CC BY 4.0 File Access Level Open (open metadata and files) |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15110445 |
| Web address (URL) | https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci15110445 |
| Publication dates | |
| Published | 17 Nov 2025 |