Why women land top jobs in struggling organisations – they may just be better in a crisis
Women often bring a leadership approach that proves advantageous for organisations facing difficulties. Across business, politics, and national leadership, women increasingly take on top positions.
While this trend seems positive, many of these roles are filled during unstable times, with significant risks that may deter male candidates. Several prominent cases reflect this pattern.
- Sarah Mullally, incoming Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to lead the Church of England, enters a role shadowed by controversy.
- Sanae Takaichi, now Japan’s first female prime minister and the country’s fourth leader in five years, inherits an economy burdened by stagnation, rising inflation, and population decline.
- Carly Fiorina became CEO of Hewlett-Packard as the tech bubble was collapsing.
- Mary Barra took the helm of General Motors shortly before a major vehicle recall.
- In the UK, figures such as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stepped into political leadership amid turbulent circumstances.
The “glass cliff” effect
Nearly twenty years ago, researchers coined the term glass cliff
to describe how women are more frequently appointed to leadership roles during crises than in periods of stability. This phenomenon suggests that women often inherit challenging situations where the risk of failure is higher.
“Our study conducted in-depth interviews with 33 women in senior leadership positions in 2023 and 2024.”
Despite increasing attention to women’s representation in leadership, there is limited focus on how they experience managing organisations amid instability.
Author’s summary
Women frequently rise to leadership when instability demands adaptable, resilient leadership, a trend that continues to reveal both opportunity and imbalance in organisational dynamics.