Charting success of female leaders: Case study of accomplished female leaders' inspirational journeys in education

Empirical evidence continues to underscore a significant gender disparity in leadership roles, creating an urgency to explore the barriers faced by females aspiring to attain leadership roles and to deal with gender disparity in leadership positions. Examining stories of the lived experiences of females in order to aid derive lessons from their leadership narratives, the study explored, the challenges and the success stories of female headteachers in basic schools in the Sekyere Kumawu District and Surrounding districts of the Asante Region of Ghana. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore the remarkable success stories of accomplished female leaders in five districts in the enclave. In-depth interviews were used to delve into understanding obstacles in their paths to reaching the pinnacles of their careers. A thematic analysis of the in-depth interviews uncovers three institutional barriers: low academic qualification of females, skewed interview and promotion processes, and unfairness in appointments. The study also uncovers two socio-cultural barriers: discrimination and lack of family support, and three personal factors: low academic qualification of females, fear, choosing motherhood roles over career roles. The study provides valuable insights into the unique journey of female leaders.