Publication
A deep dive into women’s leadership development programs (WLDPs): exploring how organizations position and frame their WLDPs – scarcity or motivational approach?
| Summary: | In response to women's persistent underrepresentation in leadership positions, organizations increasingly implement Women's Leadership Development Programs (WLDPs). Yet, research has not examined two critical aspects: how organizations strategically position these programs and whether they frame them through scarcity-based messaging highlighting underrepresentation or motivational approaches emphasizing opportunities. Through qualitative analysis of 30 semi-structured interviews across 20 organizations, using hybrid thematic analysis combining theoretical-driven and emergent coding, this study reveals organizations position WLDPs as strategic priorities while preferring motivational over scarcity-based participant messaging. These insights fill a critical gap in WLDP implementation research and offer practical organizational guidance. |
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| Main Authors: | Haas, Lavinia |
| Subject: | Women’s leadership development programs (WLDPs) Organizational positioning of women's leadership training Framing of women's leadership development Scarcity approach to womenn's leadership trainingmen's leadership mens Motivational approach to women's leadership training Glass ceiling Growth mindset Inclusive leadership Women's motivation to lead |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | master thesis |
| Access type: | open access |
| Associated institution: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Summary: | In response to women's persistent underrepresentation in leadership positions, organizations increasingly implement Women's Leadership Development Programs (WLDPs). Yet, research has not examined two critical aspects: how organizations strategically position these programs and whether they frame them through scarcity-based messaging highlighting underrepresentation or motivational approaches emphasizing opportunities. Through qualitative analysis of 30 semi-structured interviews across 20 organizations, using hybrid thematic analysis combining theoretical-driven and emergent coding, this study reveals organizations position WLDPs as strategic priorities while preferring motivational over scarcity-based participant messaging. These insights fill a critical gap in WLDP implementation research and offer practical organizational guidance. |
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