Assigned Places, Chosen Futures: How Austrian Women Forge Paths to Leadership Positions Despite Systemic Barriers - and Their Broader Socio-Economic Impact

Dr. Lisa-Marie Stauffer

Abstract

This study examines how female and male leaders in top positions in Austria perceive, experience, and navigate gendered career dynamics within the socio-cultural and institutional context of a conservative welfare state. Drawing on 59 in-depth semi-structured interviews with executives and politicians, it explores perceptions of women’s social and economic positioning, identifies structural, organizational, and individual factors influencing career progression, and analyses strategies for overcoming barriers. Applying a multi-theoretical framework that integrates Sen and Nussbaum’s Capabilities Approach, Bourdieu’s theory of capital, and Esping-Andersen’s welfare regime model, the study investigates the interplay between individual agency, structural constraints, and cultural norms. Findings reveal that similar patterns of gendered barriers—ranging from persistent stereotypes and unequal care distribution to exclusion from influential networks—affect all leaders. Those who attained the highest positions did so not through inherent privilege, but by actively developing strategies such as targeted career planning, building and leveraging social and symbolic capital, and strategically engaging in male-dominated and other key spaces. These strategies highlight the importance of cultural adaptability, resilience, and the capacity to operate across diverse professional subcultures—competencies central to cross-cultural management. The study contributes to cross-cultural competence research by demonstrating parallels between managing across national cultural boundaries and navigating deeply entrenched gendered institutional settings, offering implications for both organizational practice and policy-making.

Presentation