Research undertaken by Susan Murphy into the barriers that prevent women from advancing into senior leadership positions resulted in significant real-world impact on female senior leaders and their organisations.

Murphy’s research on the key issues in women’s leader development shaped a UEBS women's executive leadership programme delivered in partnership with FWB Park Brown. The programme, running yearly from 2016 to 2019, provided a women’s only programme to 220 women from 85 organisations, focusing on key challenges facing female leaders such as increasing leadership self-efficacy and reducing the deleterious effects of stereotype threat. Programme evaluations showed that:

  • Participants strengthened their confidence in their leadership abilities, which led to improved communication, strategic leadership, decision making, strategic thinking, team leadership, and networking skills, and higher career aspirations.
  • Women’s improved self-efficacy and career aspirations led to substantial career development.

Organisations that sent multiple participants over the 4 years reported that these women’s attendance helped them improve organisational leadership capability and led to them implementing fairer HR practices. The programme also led to the creation of the Executive Women in Leadership Network, a trusted and widely used resource to support alumni from the programme.

Contributors

Susan Murphy Headshot

Susan Murphy

Chair in Leadership Development