The influence of coaching on the career trajectories of African female CEOs in South Africa

African women, South Africa’s largest demographic, remain underrepresented in executive management, facing compounded challenges as black females. This study examines the role of coaching in influencing the career trajectories of African female CEOs. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with...

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Main Authors: Russell, Angela C., Hewitt, L.M.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford Brookes University 2025-08-01
Series:International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring
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author Russell, Angela C.
Hewitt, L.M.M.
author_facet Russell, Angela C.
Hewitt, L.M.M.
author_sort Russell, Angela C.
collection DOAJ
description African women, South Africa’s largest demographic, remain underrepresented in executive management, facing compounded challenges as black females. This study examines the role of coaching in influencing the career trajectories of African female CEOs. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with seven participants, analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the research highlights the pervasive gender and racial biases impeding their leadership journeys. Coaching emerged as an important tool, fostering self-awareness, enhancing leadership skills, and facilitating career transitions. These findings underscore coaching’s potential to help African female leaders traverse systemic barriers, supporting their advancement and success within corporate environments.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1741-8305
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Oxford Brookes University
record_format Article
series International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring
spelling doaj-art-cc29148671434570908a9ce2e05e30d32025-08-20T03:41:18ZengOxford Brookes UniversityInternational Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring1741-83052025-08-0123252010.24384/pnrk-zr66The influence of coaching on the career trajectories of African female CEOs in South AfricaRussell, Angela C.0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-4981-7859Hewitt, L.M.M.1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7007-3975https://ror.org/04z6c2n17https://ror.org/04z6c2n17African women, South Africa’s largest demographic, remain underrepresented in executive management, facing compounded challenges as black females. This study examines the role of coaching in influencing the career trajectories of African female CEOs. Through in-depth, semi-structured interviews with seven participants, analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the research highlights the pervasive gender and racial biases impeding their leadership journeys. Coaching emerged as an important tool, fostering self-awareness, enhancing leadership skills, and facilitating career transitions. These findings underscore coaching’s potential to help African female leaders traverse systemic barriers, supporting their advancement and success within corporate environments.coachingfemale ceosafrican leadersleadership development
spellingShingle Russell, Angela C.
Hewitt, L.M.M.
The influence of coaching on the career trajectories of African female CEOs in South Africa
International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring
coaching
female ceos
african leaders
leadership development
title The influence of coaching on the career trajectories of African female CEOs in South Africa
title_full The influence of coaching on the career trajectories of African female CEOs in South Africa
title_fullStr The influence of coaching on the career trajectories of African female CEOs in South Africa
title_full_unstemmed The influence of coaching on the career trajectories of African female CEOs in South Africa
title_short The influence of coaching on the career trajectories of African female CEOs in South Africa
title_sort influence of coaching on the career trajectories of african female ceos in south africa
topic coaching
female ceos
african leaders
leadership development
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AT hewittlmm theinfluenceofcoachingonthecareertrajectoriesofafricanfemaleceosinsouthafrica
AT russellangelac influenceofcoachingonthecareertrajectoriesofafricanfemaleceosinsouthafrica
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