Breaking the glass ceiling: How 21st century women have excelled in leadership

The proverbial ‘glass ceiling’ has long symbolised the invisible barriers that impede women’s advancement to top leadership positions within organisations, despite their abilities, qualifications and past achievements. Recent studies have underscored the positive impact that female leadership has had on organisational performance and societal well-being. The 21st century has seen an increased number of women breaking the proverbial glass ceiling and excelling in various sectors and endeavours. This paper explored how these women have broken the glass ceiling and excelled in leadership, the challenges they have faced and the role that organisations can play to support them. Research has consistently shown that diverse leadership teams, which include women, are more likely to generate innovative solutions and ideas. Studies show that companies with diverse leadership teams perform better financially and have stronger corporate governance. Despite progress, women continue to face invisible yet formidable barriers in leadership. Unconscious bias, societal expectations, and outdated organisational structures can hinder their advancement, forcing them to navigate a labyrinth of challenges. Irrespective of the barriers, women across the globe have employed various strategies to break the glass ceiling, with case studies illustrating their effectiveness in both developed and developing countries. Organisations have a critical role to play in promoting women's leadership by creating an enabling and inclusive environment that fosters diversity and offer equal opportunities for both genders