Abstract:
Today, the number of women in positions of leadership is increasing. Even though this is the
case, women leaders encounter significant challenges during their leadership journey. The
general objective of this study was to assess the challenges and opportunities of women in
leadership positions in public sectors. Mixed research method with explanatory-sequential
mixed research design was employed for data collection and data analysis. The data collected
by questionnaires and interview for selected public sectors head office and employees to
explain the challenges and opportunities of women in leadership position. Consequently,
probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used to selects the respondents and
to make discussants the researches. Selected data analyzed by descriptive statistics. The result
showed that women faced socio-cultural challenges (conflict between work and family
responsibilities and lack of family support) with mean value 4.06 and 3.86 respectively.
Organizational challenges(a lack of female role models, an uncomfortable working
environment, gender-based discrimination, lack of support, absence of leadership trainings,
absence of childcare centers, a lack of organizational networks) with mean values >3.5, and
leadership related challenges(inflexible working hours, stress and unsatisfactory pay) with
mean values >3.5 were the major determinants influencing women leaders' career
progression. The study also identified significant opportunities and supports for overcoming
those challenges. The opportunities include mentoring and coaching, training and networking
opportunities, affirmative action, maternal leave, and family support. The study concludes that
women in leadership positions faced a number of challenges, as well as limited opportunities
that targeted women in the study area. Hence, the government should pay attention to them
and develop initiatives such as family-friendly laws to assist women in overcoming their
challenges.
