Between Ambition and Care: Women’s Leadership Trajectories in Denmark : Interpreting the lived experiences of female leaders in Danish companies

Despite Denmark’s strong reputation for gender equality, women remain underrepresented in topleadership roles. This thesis explores how women with children navigate leadership positions inDanish organizations, focusing on the intersections of gender, caregiving, and cultural identity. Through in-depth qualitative interviews and a reflexive, constructivist approach, the studyhighlights how participants balance authenticity and ambition while managing societalexpectations. Drawing on Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity, the analysis shows howgender is actively shaped and reshaped through everyday leadership practices. Adrienne Rich’sdistinction between motherhood as institution and as lived experience provides a critical lens tounderstand how structural expectations around caregiving often conflict with women’s personal,embodied experiences of motherhood. Participants describe leadership as relational and purpose-driven but often face pressure to alignwith dominant, masculine norms. Motherhood plays a central role in shaping career trajectories,revealing both the value of structural support and the influence of persistent cultural expectations.Shared caregiving, partner support, and inclusive workplaces emerge as key enablers of authenticleadership. This study contributes new insight into how leadership and gender unfold in context, advancingfeminist and performative perspectives within organizational research.