Masterclass ‘Research Results about Challenges and Strategies’

In this Masterclass, project partners Dr. Hiba Rajha and Dr. Luise Fischer unveil the results of their qualitative study conducted with 40 women leaders from around the world. Their goal? To understand the invisible barriers women face on their path to leadership – and, more importantly, to uncover the concrete strategies they use to overcome them. Drawing from in-depth interviews, the Masterclass highlights three levels of challenges. On the personal side: self-doubt, impostor syndrome, perfectionism, and the struggle to align personal values with traditional leadership norms. On the interpersonal level: a lack of role models, limited solidarity among women, persistent gender stereotypes, mental load, and family imbalance. And on the systemic level: toxic corporate cultures, the glass ceiling, microaggressions, structural inequalities, and workplaces that fail to foster inclusion. But that’s only part of the story. Hiba and Luise also share the transformative strategies women leaders have developed: building resilience, negotiating smartly, creating support networks, practicing inclusive leadership, and staying true to their values. Along the way, they uncover surprising insights – the unexpected role of sports in boosting confidence, cultural nuances around motherhood, and even tensions between women in highly competitive environments. This Masterclass introduces an evolving model of inclusive leadership, structured around nine spheres: leading yourself, your personal life, your professional relationships, a team, change, a business, your career, your image, and your environment. Learn more about the project here: https://agya.info/research/research-projects-by-year/inclusive-leadership-a-digital-approach-to-bridging-the-gender-gap