ABSTRACT
This chapter employs constitutive theorizing to understand the conditions within which women ambassadorial leaders operate and to account for the elements that comprise women's ambassadorial leadership in the UN, rather than attempting to unearth causal variables to explain it and its effects. It provides empirical insight into the UN system and how it accounts for women's increased representation in the highest diplomatic ranks. The chapter argues that while there are key characteristics of successful ambassadorial leadership in the UN, there are also factors that influence how envisaged and embodied leadership translates into concrete action. It also provides a brief historical overview of women's participation in multilateral diplomacy for contextual reference. The chapter lays the groundwork for research on the effects of women's increased representation in leading diplomatic posts while referencing practical recommendations for the continued advancement of women's leadership in multilateral diplomacy settings.
