Overcoming Barriers to Voluntary Leadership Engagement: The Role of Servant Leadership for Women Leaders in Higher Education

Low engagement in voluntary leadership roles negatively impacts organizational effectiveness, membership renewals, engagement, referrals, and growth opportunities. This study investigated the factors that hinder women leaders working in Georgia's higher education institutions from engaging in volunteer roles within professional organizations. The central research question was, "How can the problem of decreased engagement and participation be resolved?" These barriers limited women's willingness to pursue leadership opportunities, categorized into work-life and organizational barriers. Several themes were identified during the analysis of a 23-question survey conducted with 47 respondents to examine the challenges these professional women leaders faced in engaging in voluntary leadership roles. This study discussed themes found through a mixed methods case study approach, including quantitative analysis (SPSS) and qualitative thematic analysis framed within a Christian worldview. The findings of this study highlighted key barriers and motivations influencing women leaders' engagement in voluntary leadership roles within professional associations. The most significant deterrents to participation included time constraints, overcommitment/stress, lack of institutional recognition, personal/family responsibilities, and organizational culture. The authors integrated insight into selflessness and service to propose faith-based strategies for enhancing engagement, mentoring emerging leaders, and improving organizational culture. The research contributed practical insight to address challenges specific to women in higher education, enriching the broader conversation on faith-based leadership and organizational sustainability.