The role of experiential and transformative learning in fostering young women's leadership: A pilot study

Abstract

Despite efforts to reduce the gender gap in leadership, substantial challenges remain. Higher education institutions address this gap by offering leadership development training for young women. Experiential and transformative learning are favourable educational strategies for developing psychological empowerment, leadership identity, and self-efficacy among young women, incorporating gender mainstreaming.

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a pilot leadership development programme for young women to develop their psychological empowerment, leadership identity and self-efficacy at a Spanish university. This programme comprises training and mentoring activities built on experiential and transformative learning approaches.

A mixed-methods research intervention design combining quasi-experimental and qualitative methods measured the programme's effectiveness. The pre-and post-intervention scores of the intervention (n = 18) and control groups (n = 21) were compared by performing Student's t-test. The results reveal that participating in the young women's leadership development programme increases psychological empowerment, leadership self-efficacy and leadership identity. Participants' post-intervention interview results support quantitative results.

The findings demonstrate that effective young women's leadership development programmes should promote leadership self-development by providing strategies to their students regarding how to overcome gender biases and discrimination and combining personal growth experiences. Empowering young women to lead themselves sets the foundations for developing responsible leadership.