The uneventful status of women in the events industry: a mixed methods approach

Purpose This study investigates the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles within the events industry despite their significant presence in the workforce. The research aims to identify individual and organizational barriers to women’s career progression and examine the relationship between these barriers and turnover intentions. Design/methodology/approach An exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach was used. The first phase involved qualitative data collection from 122 female event professionals to uncover themes such as work-family conflict, perceptions of the glass ceiling and job stress. These themes were quantitatively tested with a sample of 273 female respondents using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The study found significant relationships between work-family conflict and perception of the glass ceiling and job stress. These perceptions were also linked to turnover intentions, with job stress and glass ceiling perceptions mediating the relationship between work-family conflict and turnover intentions. Practical implications By addressing work-family conflict and perceptions of the glass ceiling, organizations can adopt policies that foster a supportive environment to dismantle barriers to women’s career advancement in the events industry. Originality/value This study is among the first to examine the leadership barriers faced by women in the events industry using a mixed-methods approach. It extends the glass ceiling framework by integrating work-family conflict and job stress as key mediators, providing a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges faced by women in this sector.