ABSTRACT
In emerging markets, women in corporate enterprises face a unique set of challenges and opportunities. These women assume responsibilities and face pressures that are atypical in terms of cultural norms and values around the role of women in society. The ten women interviewed for this chapter were all distinctive in terms of their strong sense of personal and professional identity and their unwavering sense of mission and purpose. The factors that have shaped the women leaders in childhood, their sense of self, authenticity and adherence to their values, as well as the power conferred on them—all influence their unique leadership styles. As important for the women leaders as the shift into positions of leadership within corporate enterprises were the transitions within or out of these organizations. Networking is a critical tool for female leaders, both in their power relations and due to the more relational leadership style described by certain respondents.
