What the Research Really Says About Female Leadership

The research is in. The problem is clear. What’s missing is the will to change. 

A new integrative review in Human Resource Management Review confirms what many of us already know. Women are underrepresented in leadership not because of a lack of capability but because of systems that still expect them to act like men to succeed. 

As a Human Performance Expert and certified Flow Coach who works with high-achieving women across industries, I see this play out every day. Confidence gaps. Second-guessing. Overthinking. Playing small while less capable colleagues get promoted. 

But here’s the truth the research makes unavoidable. When women are supported to lead on their terms, everyone wins. 

It’s not a diversity problem. It’s a performance problem. 

What the research says and how it shows up at work 

The review outlines two key concepts. 

• Leadership emergence: who gets into leadership roles 

• Leadership effectiveness: how well they perform once there 

Both are shaped by bias, role design, and outdated definitions of what a “leader” looks and sounds like. We still reward loud over wise. Confident over competent. Masculine-coded traits over actual capability. 

It’s exhausting. And it’s costing your organisation more than you think. 

The gap isn’t just structural. It’s internal 

The study also confirms something we rarely talk about in boardrooms. External barriers become internal ones. 

When women are consistently overlooked, judged more harshly, or expected to over-deliver to prove themselves, confidence takes a hit. Not because women are weak. But because the system is. 

That’s why I created the Women Who Lead program. To help professional women build the inner confidence and outer presence to lead with impact. Without waiting for permission or trying to fit into a box that was never designed for them. 

What organisations can do right now 

If you’re serious about high performance, you need to stop treating confidence as a personal problem and start designing workplaces that support it. That means: 

• Redefining what great leadership looks like 

• Creating psychological safety so women feel free to speak, challenge, and lead 

• Providing coaching and development programs that address both the mindset and skillset needed for fearless leadership 

Because you can’t change the system without changing the people who shape it. 

Ready to move from theory to action? 

If your organisation wants women who don’t just sit at the table but shift the conversation, the Women Who Lead program is for you. 

It’s a science-backed, three-month program for high-achieving women who are ready to ditch self-doubt, lead with confidence, and create success on their own terms. 

It’s not a feel-good session.
It’s not a fluffy “empowerment” workshop.
It’s real, evidence-based development for real-world performance. 

Learn more about Women Who Lead 

Let’s stop the cycle of overthinking and start backing women with the tools, support, and confidence to lead boldly.