ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates that the potential for leadership training to catalyze deep and lasting impacts on women’s leadership growth and will provide insight into the characteristics of the training that had positive, transformative effect. The Women’s Leadership Series (WLS) was intended to apply management and leadership theory to the gendered context of organizations and women’s gendered leadership experience. The process of gender socialization is aimed at inculcating a masculine identity and worldview for men and a feminine one for women. The gendered nature of organizations creates what is known as a double bind in many facets of women’s work lives, including in leadership. While the resolution of identity conflict is necessary for maturation and becoming authentic, undertaking the task can be experienced as psychologically and socially risky, especially for women and members of minority groups. The WLS courses included Women’s Leadership and Management, Negotiation Skills for Women, and Advanced Leadership.
