An insight to the lived experiences of Saudi females in leadership

Abstract

Women leadership plays a vital role in country’s economic growth and community development but their participation in leadership roles in Saudi Arabia has been well below compared to the global average. In this context, current study aimed to explore the lived experiences of female Saudi leaders through their perspectives, and to understand the factors that may influence on their leadership journeys. Study comprised of interviews of 10 female leaders selected in a purposive sampling approach from the educational sector through structured questionnaires. The acquired data was analysed using NVivo software using thematic content analysis. The findings are discussed in the form of themes related to the impact of family relationships, socio-cultural and policy context of Saudi Arabia, and workplace environment on the leadership journeys of women.