Date of Degree

8-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Program

Business Administration

Advisor

Dawn Liguez

Advisor

Arthur Hernandez

Advisor

Ernesto Escobedo

Abstract

Although women make up a substantial part of the banking workforce, they remain underrepresented in leadership roles due to barriers like the glass ceiling that limit their career advancement. Despite women’s underrepresentation in leadership roles, little research has examined their perspectives on the enablers of career advancement in this sector. This qualitative descriptive study explores the factors women identify as critical in breaking these barriers to attain leadership roles. Ten semi-structured interviews of women who hold a leadership position in banking were thematically analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-step thematic analysis and NVivo software. Guided by feminist theory, the study captured personal insights into strategies, organizational support, and resources that facilitate advancement. The findings revealed that professional readiness, communication, mentorship, opportunity-seeking, assertiveness, work-life balance, empathy, adaptability, and resilience are all factors that impact women’s career advancement. The women interviewed identified professional readiness through education and industry experience, strong technical and communication skills, relationship-building, mentorship, networking, and the ability to identify and seize career advancement opportunities as central to breaking the glass ceiling. Leadership success was further attributed to aggressiveness, strategic visibility, and the ability to balance career and family commitments. Overall, the study demonstrates a combination of individual agency and organizational support, underscoring the need for continued efforts to dismantle structural barriers.

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