High‐flyer women academicians: factors contributing to success

Abstract

PurposeTo investigate the career experiences of women professors in order to gain an in‐depth understanding of factors contributing to their present status of profession.Design/methodology/approachData were generated from career history method on 31 women professors who have been identified as high‐flyers. They were selected based on a criterion that they achieved professorship at the age of 48 years and below. Each respondent was interviewed on questions addressing topics across the entire life stages. Constant comparative analysis of data was conducted to generate themes.FindingsReveals the factors associated with their fast performance in academia that were divided into two stages, i.e. career exploration, and career establishment and maintenance. Factors dictated at the career exploration stage are early exposure to learning, entrance to boarding schools, first degree experience and personal qualities, while factors that contribute during their establishment and maintenance stage are graduate study experience, career centrality, family support, uniqueness of academic role, health consciousness and sense of religiosity.Research limitations/implicationsIt involved women professors only in order to understand the complexities of women academicians and their careers.Practical implicationsProvides evidence and information on the subjective interpretation of a career in academia, which should be taken into consideration in promotion and selection exercises, especially re women academicians. It also enhances women's understanding of their own careers and the interplay of other aspects of life as well as organizational environments in their careers.Originality/valueThis paper offers practical information to inspired individuals, especially women academicians, in order to achieve professorship.