Voices Behind the Barriers: the experiences of working women in Wales on the path to leadership

Jayde Howard; Lauren Josie Thomas; Shehla Khan

Voices Behind the Barriers: the experiences of working women in Wales on the path to leadership

Jayde Howard, Lauren Josie Thomas, Shehla Khan

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

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Abstract

This paper presents the preliminary findings of a 2024 study exploring barriers to gender equity in Welsh workplaces. Through a benchmark survey and ZMET interviews, the research investigates challenges women face in leadership roles, including flexible working, childcare responsibilities, and unconscious bias. Survey results highlight that women with caring responsibilities face significant obstacles to career advancement, while flexible working offers both support and hindrance. The study underscores the need for tailored approaches that address the intersectionality of gender, caregiving, and career progression. This paper discusses the ongoing analysis of interview data and its potential to inform Welsh government and organizational policies aimed at fostering gender parity in leadership roles. Ultimately, the research seeks to contribute to advancing gender equality in Welsh workplaces.

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2025
Event	British Academy of Management Conference 2025: On the Border: Management Challenges, Business Opportunities and Disrupted Institutional Contexts - Kent Business School, University of Kent, United Kingdom Duration: 1 Sept 2025 → 5 Sept 2025 Conference number: 39th

Conference

Conference	British Academy of Management Conference 2025
Abbreviated title	BAM2025
Country/Territory	United Kingdom
Period	1/09/25 → 5/09/25

Keywords

Gender
Gender equality
Leadership and management
Leadership
women's employment

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

Submitted- JH LJT SK - BAM 2025Submitted manuscript, 39.2 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Voices Behind the Barriers: the experiences of working women in Wales on the path to leadership",

abstract = "This paper presents the preliminary findings of a 2024 study exploring barriers to gender equity in Welsh workplaces. Through a benchmark survey and ZMET interviews, the research investigates challenges women face in leadership roles, including flexible working, childcare responsibilities, and unconscious bias. Survey results highlight that women with caring responsibilities face significant obstacles to career advancement, while flexible working offers both support and hindrance. The study underscores the need for tailored approaches that address the intersectionality of gender, caregiving, and career progression. This paper discusses the ongoing analysis of interview data and its potential to inform Welsh government and organizational policies aimed at fostering gender parity in leadership roles. Ultimately, the research seeks to contribute to advancing gender equality in Welsh workplaces.",

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TY - CONF

T1 - Voices Behind the Barriers: the experiences of working women in Wales on the path to leadership

AU - Howard, Jayde

AU - Thomas, Lauren Josie

AU - Khan, Shehla

N1 - Conference code: 39th

PY - 2025/9/1

Y1 - 2025/9/1

N2 - This paper presents the preliminary findings of a 2024 study exploring barriers to gender equity in Welsh workplaces. Through a benchmark survey and ZMET interviews, the research investigates challenges women face in leadership roles, including flexible working, childcare responsibilities, and unconscious bias. Survey results highlight that women with caring responsibilities face significant obstacles to career advancement, while flexible working offers both support and hindrance. The study underscores the need for tailored approaches that address the intersectionality of gender, caregiving, and career progression. This paper discusses the ongoing analysis of interview data and its potential to inform Welsh government and organizational policies aimed at fostering gender parity in leadership roles. Ultimately, the research seeks to contribute to advancing gender equality in Welsh workplaces.

AB - This paper presents the preliminary findings of a 2024 study exploring barriers to gender equity in Welsh workplaces. Through a benchmark survey and ZMET interviews, the research investigates challenges women face in leadership roles, including flexible working, childcare responsibilities, and unconscious bias. Survey results highlight that women with caring responsibilities face significant obstacles to career advancement, while flexible working offers both support and hindrance. The study underscores the need for tailored approaches that address the intersectionality of gender, caregiving, and career progression. This paper discusses the ongoing analysis of interview data and its potential to inform Welsh government and organizational policies aimed at fostering gender parity in leadership roles. Ultimately, the research seeks to contribute to advancing gender equality in Welsh workplaces.

KW - Gender

KW - Gender equality

KW - Leadership and management

KW - Leadership

KW - women's employment

M3 - Paper

T2 - British Academy of Management Conference 2025

Y2 - 1 September 2025 through 5 September 2025

ER -