Breaking the glass ceiling revisited: examining the lived experiences and reflections of women in managerial positions in Sierra Leone

Globally, gender inequality in corporate management remains a recurring problem as women continue to be underrepresented in managerial roles despite increasing participation in the workforce. In Sierra Leone, traditional norms and institutional barriers persist in holding back women’s career progression, even within NGOs that strongly advocate for social justice and gender equality. This paper examines the lived experiences and reflections of women in managerial roles within NGOs in Sierra Leone. It seeks to uncover the structural, cultural, and organisational challenges women encounter and how they navigate these challenges to construct their career success. Grounded in feminist institutionalism, this paper adopts an exploratory qualitative analytical approach by drawing data from twenty (20) women in managerial positions across five NGOs using semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis. The paper reveals that cultural norms, gender stereotypes, work-family conflict, and discriminatory institutional practices remain significant barriers to women’s career advancement. Interestingly, while some NGOs have adopted progressive policies such as flexible working arrangements and mentorship programs, implementation inconsistencies often limit their impact. Despite the challenges, these women exhibited remarkable resilience and agency by employing proactive coping strategies to construct their career success.