Fostering holistic growth: insights for women’s leadership development in academia

Abstract

The paper presents the outcomes of an experimental women’s leadership program designed to understand the expectations and gather feedback to create future leadership development initiatives for women in academia. The study identifies implications at individual and organizational levels, emphasizing the significance of self-development and the implementation of effective policies, practices, and career advancement strategies. The key recommendation is to enhance support mechanisms by introducing new mentoring networks through personalized one-on-one action plan sessions. A novel contribution of the study is the proposal to integrate service-learning into the leadership development framework. By incorporating service-learning, participants can develop strategic thinking and networking skills while contributing to positive societal impact. This inclusion not only fosters institutional change but also empowers individuals to engage meaningfully with their communities, thus enhancing the program’s overall relevance and efficacy within academic settings.