Surveying women leaders' career trajectories: Implications for leadership development in New Zealand organisations.

This study relied on senior women leaders' retrospective accounts to identify the factors that shaped their career progression, and tested the relationships between executive coaching, mentorship, and sponsorship, and career satisfaction and leadership efficacy perceptions. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from an online survey of 159 women in senior leadership positions in New Zealand. The findings show that organisational culture and perceived work-family tensions were the factors that most hindered leadership advancement among women. In addition, women leaders ascribed personal attributes such as drive and hard work, along with social resources such as sponsors and managerial support, to their leadership advancement. Based on the results, we offer practical suggestions to improve career management, leadership development, and organisational outcomes for women leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]