Date of Degree

12-2013

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Program

Education

Advisor

Absael Antelo

Advisor

Dorothy Ettling

Advisor

Richard Lewis

Advisor

Osman Özturgut

Abstract

This qualitative narrative study explored the experiences and outcomes of 12 women who completed a statewide leadership development program. The purpose of the study was to gather the stories and perceptions of the program’s outcomes of women who graduated from the Leadership Texas program between 1983 and 2008. Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory and the EvaluLEAD framework (Grove, Kibel, & Haas, 2005) were used to assist in the exploration and documentation of participants' perceived outcomes of the program within three domains, the individual, organizational, and community levels. Through one-on-one interviews, participants shared their experiences and perceived outcomes after graduating from the program. The study revealed that women who participate in a women’s only leadership program experience increased self-confidence, develop long-term relationships and networks that benefit them both professionally and personally and expend significant effort in preparing for, achieving, and maintaining leadership roles. The study’s findings also uncovered how leadership programs influence transformational learning and how women successfully integrate new skills, concepts, and information learned in these programs to benefit themselves, their organizations, and their communities. The study concluded that women’s leadership development programs are a valuable tool for women to develop their potential as leaders, individually and collectively, and provides an opportunity to increase their social capital in ways that traditionally have been the domain of men.

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