Leadership Studies Commons^™

The Role Of White Racial Identity Development In Leadership Practices: An Interpretive Phenomenological Study In White Educational Leaders, Kaitlyn Ryan

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examined how white educational leaders experience and make meaning of their racial identity development as they lead adult professional learning focused on racial equity and culturally responsive practice. Grounded in Helms’s White Racial Identity Development (WRID) model and guided by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), the study explored the lived experiences of ten white leaders across PK–12 and Institution of Higher Education (IHE). Data were collected through three semi‑structured interviews per participant and analyzed using IPA’s six‑step process. Five major themes emerged: transformational experiences that shifted leaders’ understanding of race and privilege; the critical role of white affinity …

Understanding Workplace Psychological Safety Among Latina Professionals: An Exploration Of Intersectional Experiences, Michal Tapia

Theses and Dissertations

Latina professionals represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. workforce, yet they remain disproportionately underrepresented in executive and C-suite roles. This disparity reflects structural conditions that shape access to voice, support, advancement, and decision-making authority.

This mixed-methods study examined psychological safety among 145 Latina professionals across the United States, defined as the belief that one can speak up, ask for help, disagree, or raise concerns without fear of negative consequences (Edmondson, 1999, 2019). The study explored how identity, relationships, leadership, workplace support, inclusion, mentorship, and structural barriers shape psychological safety at work.

Quantitative analyses showed that workplace support …

More Than A Seat At The Table: Examining How Psychological Safety, Identity Representation, And Leadership Accountability Impact African American Women In Global Workplace Environments, Shelbi Chandler

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of African American women working in corporate technology environments, with particular attention to psychological safety, representation, and systemic barriers to advancement. Despite increased organizational commitments to equity and inclusion, research continues to demonstrate that Black women encounter persistent intersectional barriers shaped by race and gender within professional settings (Erskine et al., 2021; Field et al., 2023; Roberson, 2019). Guided by Du Bois’s (2008) theory of double consciousness, Goosby Smith’s (2014a) Ubuntic inclusion framework, and appreciative inquiry (AI; Cooperrider & Whitney, 2005), this study explored how African American women interpret, navigate, and respond …

Graduate Student Retention: Examining Why Master’S Students Leave And What Motivates Their Return In A Large Public University System, Sonja Prophete

Theses and Dissertations

Graduate student persistence is a relatively unexplored area in the literature of higher education studies; specifically, at a multi-institutional scale at the master's level. This research study examines the factors which cause students to discontinue their master's degrees, and what conditions could possibly support them returning to their program at a large urban public university system. The current study was guided by Hoyt and Winn's (2004) distinction between non-returning students, and Bean & Metzner's (1985) theoretical model of student attrition. A sequential mixed-methods study was conducted to examine the institutional and environmental influences on students' decision-making processes.

The quantitative data …

Either At The Table Or On The Menu: Strategies For Enabling Practitioner-Led Policy Co-Creation In Education Systems, Robert Reyes

Theses and Dissertations

Demands for educational transformation present unparalleled challenges for practitioners, as successive reform initiatives often exclude their voices and discount their expertise. Despite empirical evidence recognizing educators as key agents of change, systemic barriers continue to hinder their participation in policy-centered decision making. This study underscores the urgent need for education systems to invest in practitioner capacity-building, structural enablement, and cross-sector collaboration to create a more equitable and responsive future for education governance. A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed to explore how best to prepare and enable PK-12 practitioners to co-create education policy at the state level, aiming to empower them …

Assessing Teachers’ Conceptual Leadership Perceptions Of School-Site Administrators As An Approach To Improve Teacher Morale, Darlene C. Landy

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to have teachers complete a self-assessment survey to assess their conceptual belief of the leadership styles of school-site administrators that are conducive to high teacher morals. The questions addressed how teacher morale affected the teachers according to the number of years they had been teaching, their college majors, their highest college degree, their gender, and their ethnicity. The teachers who participated in this study were volunteers who had to be teaching for 2 years or more.

This was a quantitative study that used the Teacher Rapport With Principal dimension of the Purdue Teacher Opinionnaire …

Critical Success Factors For U.S. Fintech Startups In The Post-Covid-19 Era: Applying The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Framework, Wen Hua

Theses and Dissertations

The extradentary surge of financial technology (fintech) enterprises has fundamentally transformed contemporary financial markets, yet extant scholarly literature exhibits a notable absence of a unified and theoretically grounded framework for explicating fintech startups’ success (Hamza et al., 2025). This dissertation addresses this theoretical lacuna by synthesizing an integrative entrepreneurial ecosystem framework to illustrate the critical success factors (CSFs) that catalyze fintech venture performance (Conley, 2014). Drawing upon established theoretical foundations, this research employs a multi-method research design, and develops a comprehensive framework for fintech startup companies’ success. The methodological approach commenced with a systematic meta-analysis of theoretical paradigms, establishing a …

Taking It To The Streets: A Comparative Case Study Of Urban Street Medicine Programs For The Unhoused Population, Dolly Dimple Harris

Theses and Dissertations

“Taking it to the Streets” originated from the 1960s social and political activism (Doohan & Mishori, 2019). The term reflects the 1990s movement when a Philadelphia physician decided that caring for the unhoused population was necessary and started street medicine. Street medicine is an alternative medical approach to formal healthcare intended to address unhoused individuals in their lived environment. In the street medicine model, healthcare providers offer medical support for the unhoused in alleyways, parks, under bridges, and encampments. The purpose of this comparative case study was to examine two street medicine programs’ administrative processes and how they provide healthcare …

Leveling The Playing Field: A Phenomenological Study Advocating For Diversity In Nba And Wnba Sports Organization Leadership, Alejandra Jimenez

Theses and Dissertations

Through phenomenological research, a global leadership and change initiative is outlined for US-based sports organizations. The sports organizations are the National Basketball Association (NBA) and their extended female league, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Both organizations recruit international players, attract global fans, and enhance current diversity policies to promote underrepresented women and people of color in leadership. The NBA and WNBA public human resources and diversity policies provide underrepresented leadership rates and efforts for questionnaire data sets and qualitative interviews. Nationally, these major sports organizations should further develop policies and practices to increase Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) …

Latina Physician Assistants In Clinical Leadership Roles: Motivations, Challenges, And Insights, Ana Ruiz-Peña

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the rapidly growing Latino population in the United States, only a few of them are physicians, physician assistants (PAs), or nurses. This limited representation becomes smaller with Latina PAs in clinical leadership roles, leading to a health disparity that could negatively impact the health care of the Latino community. To gain a deeper understanding of this issue, the researcher conducted a phenomenological qualitative study examining the lived experiences of Latina PAs in clinical leadership roles, focusing on their motivations, challenges, and strategies for overcoming these barriers. The study was theoretically grounded in theories related to culture, gender, and socioeconomic …

Millennial Leadership Practices: How Are They Choosing To Lead Using The Lens Of Their Managerial Style, Claudia Helen Hesky Archibald

Theses and Dissertations

Despite millennials comprising over one-third of the current workforce, empirical research regarding their leadership practices remains limited. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating: (1) the preferred leadership practices of millennial leaders, and (2) whether millennial characteristics indicate a preference for specific leadership styles. Data were collected from 48 millennial leaders in the United States through online surveys, supplemented by 16 virtual interviews. The analysis revealed that millennial leadership practices, consistent with servant leadership principles, emphasized empowerment and delegation, relationship and community building, and trust cultivation.

'No Girl-On Girl Crime': A Qualitative Interview Study Of How Older Women In The Police Force Experience Competition, Social Support, And Discrimination, Bridget Graham

Theses and Dissertations

Law enforcement remains a male-dominated field in which women continually have to prove they belong. As women achieve recognition and move into high-ranking roles in law enforcement, they encounter unique forms of discrimination and social support opportunities that are shaped by their years of experience. To better understand the unique lived experiences of aging women in the context of the police force, this thesis conducted qualitative interviews with women in their fifties who have achieved success as police officers. Semi-structured interviews with six aging adult women within law enforcement were conducted. The interviews included questions related to the evolution of …

Strategic Military Readiness: Navigating Knowledge Management In The United States Army, Blaine Andra White

Theses and Dissertations

This was a qualitative phenomenological study of knowledge management (KM) in the U.S. Army. The study explored the KM phenomenon by interviewing retired highly experienced field-grade Army commissioned and non-commissioned officers (NCOs), with varying backgrounds in combat, combat support, and combat service support branches. The research sought to address the problem of a discernable gap in the understanding among Army leaders regarding the effective utilization of KM staff for their units to employ the KM process effectively. This study's two central research questions (RQ) were RQ1: What targeted strategies can be developed for Army leaders and their subordinate units to …

Belief Systems Amongst Black Women: A Qualitative Study Of Social Supports And Factors That Facilitate Pathways To Leadership Positions Within Professional Sport, Rachel Lofton

Theses and Dissertations

Despite notable advancements made by Black women in both athletic and professional settings, their representation in leadership roles within the sports industry remains disproportionately low. The underrepresentation of Black women in leadership positions within professional sport organizations underscores the need for research to identify the social supports and factors facilitating their career progression. This study addresses the gap in the literature through qualitative interviews with twelve Black women who hold director-level positions or higher in professional sports teams or leagues. Grounded theory was employed to gather, examine, and interpret the data from the interviews. Critical race theory, standpoint theory, intersectionality, …

Refining Albert O. Hirschman’S Model: High-Performance Employee Covert Behavior Toward Organizational Identity Change, Lisa Christine Bahar

Theses and Dissertations

This explanatory single case study revisited economist and philosopher Albert O. Hirschman’s (1970) exit, voice, and loyalty (EVL) model to explore two covert scenarios, which included how and why a high-performance employee stays silent and turns to apathy and neglect amid organizational identity change. A case study focused on Elon Musk’s Twitter, Inc. takeover was selected with a cross-case analysis procedure for validation and reliability. The unit of analysis was one high-performance employee and one organization that both served as an archetype for each unit. The study focused on occurrences before and during the takeover from June 2019 through July …

Navigating Leadership As A Black Woman In The United States Space Industry: An Exploration, Rogena Thurber

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the ontological perspectives and leadership experiences of Black women in the U.S. space industry, employing an intersectionality conceptual framework. The research aimed to understand how Black women navigated their paths to leadership at the intersection of gender and race within Predominantly White Institutions (PWIs) in the U.S. Space Industry (USSI).

Following a pilot phase to refine the research approach, eight one-hour, one-on-one interviews were conducted with Black women leaders from seven major USSI organizations in Southern California (LibGuides, n.d.). The study probed participants' leadership approaches, educational backgrounds, access to opportunities, and professional development experiences.

Emotional Intelligence …

Assessing The “Plateaus” Vertical Development Model With A New Likert Scale Instrument, Mark Divine

Theses and Dissertations

This research project will focus on the assessment of the Five Plateaus (Plateaus) vertical leadership development model with a newly constructed Likert Scale instrument. Part one of the research project was a pilot study to create a simple, internet-based instrument. The scale, comprised of 100 questions and completed in 30 minutes, assesses participants' self- perceived stage of development as presented in the Plateaus vertical development model. The instrument was designed to capture the experience of participants and to overcome limitations of existing assessments by mitigating the subjectivity of sentence completion instruments, as well as to enhance efficiency and reliability. The …

Leading Organizational Learning Through Stories In U.S. “Big Technology” Companies, Stephanie R. Voss

Theses and Dissertations

Storytelling is becoming increasingly influential across various domains, particularly in executive education and leadership development, where it plays a crucial role in the concept of leadership as performance (Gonzalez & Chakraborty, 2012). Storytelling in the classroom setting provides an opportunity for learners to embed elements of narrative and identity in classroom pedagogy (Edwards et al., 2013). In the professional context, employees construct meaning in their workplace by hearing and/or participating in stories (Echeverria et al., 2017).

This qualitative exploratory study investigates the influence of storytelling in driving organizational learning. The research focuses on the U.S. Big Technology (Tech) sector, home …

The Phenomenon Of Collaborative Leadership At Gensler: Work-Life Balance Of Co-Leaders, Chidimma Abuka

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods phenomenological case study investigates the lived experiences of co-leaders operating within a male-female leadership dyad, with a particular focus on how collaborative leadership influences work-life balance. As organizations increasingly explore shared leadership as a strategy for adaptability and innovation, the co-leadership model - defined by the equal sharing of roles and responsibilities - offers a compelling alternative to traditional hierarchical leadership structures. Grounded in shared leadership theory (Pearce & Conger, 2003) and dual leadership theory (Hasija et al., 2017), this study examines the dynamics of co-leadership within a global architecture and design firm, shedding light on the …

Navigating The New Normal: A Grounded Theory Study Of Lessons Learned About Leadership Practices Since The Pandemic In Multimodal Workplace Settings And The Future Of Work, Jessica Arriaza

Theses and Dissertations

The global pandemic has profoundly transformed leadership and the work landscape across multimodal workplace environments (onsite, virtual, and hybrid). As organizations navigated unprecedented disruption, leaders had to respond with agility, empathy, and innovation. This qualitative, grounded theory study explored the transformative impact of post-pandemic changes on leadership practices within the evolving workplace landscape and future work trends. The overarching research question guiding this study was to what extent, if at all, leadership practices have evolved since the global pandemic across onsite, virtual, and hybrid workplace settings, and what skills, strategies, and practices will future leaders need to navigate the future …

A Practical Theology Of Change: Community-Centered Leadership For Congregational Transformation In Evolving Contexts, Kevin W. Vanhook Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Communities worldwide have been dramatically and rapidly changing, with more of the world’s population expected to live in urban settings by 2030. Christian churches that failed to adapt to their communities’ mergent needs experienced stagnation and decline, while those that survived and thrived rethought their strategies for engaging with their respective communities. Research indicated that churches focusing on achieving and sustaining congregational health and vitality had the potential to defy the prevailing trends of church decline. However, there was a lack of research regarding best practices for doing so. Therefore, this study identified the practices used by ministers of Christian …

A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences And Leadership Perspectives Of Women Who Have Been Candidates For Elected Political Office, Angela M. Fentiman

Theses and Dissertations

Women’s underrepresentation in leadership is well-documented. Despite making gains in some leadership areas, underrepresentation persists in executive elected positions. Using a life course research framework that examines the life journey, along with leadership theory and literature explaining underrepresentation, this study goes beyond the numbers to explore the experiences of women who have run for executive elected office. Specifically, it includes the perspectives of 10 women who ran for governor during the 2022 U.S. midterm election. The participants demonstrate leadership approaches consistent with servant and authentic leadership and consider characteristics associated with those styles to be the ideal approaches for political …

Best Practices In Leadership In Probation, Ronamae Panganiban

Theses and Dissertations

Research indicates that leadership in law enforcement is a continuous learning process (Birzer et al., 2016; Davies & Heysmand, 2021; Niles et al., 2024; Roberts et al., 2016). Due to the complex structure and changing environment, leadership responsibilities fall upon multiple individuals in a chain of command (C. Davis, 2020; G. W. Garner, 2016; Sienkiewicz-Malyjurek, 2016). The research study aimed to identify best practices for leadership in law enforcement that leaders employ that make them successful. It used a phenomenological qualitative design and purposive sampling method to obtain a sample size of 15 participants. The study utilized a semi structured …

A Mixed Method Case Study Of Leadership For Change: Authentic Transformational Leadership In A Local Baptist Church, Hui Sun

Theses and Dissertations

This convergent parallel mixed methods case study explores how a local Baptist church navigated organizational change during and after the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of authentic and transformational leadership. Grounded in organizational leadership and open systems framework of organizational change, the study examined two primary hypotheses: (1) RBC demonstrated an authentic transformational leadership paradigm in its change processes since 2020, and (2) this paradigm significantly and positively influenced perceived leadership effectiveness.

Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six leaders (three pastors, one minister, one staff leader, and one deacon) and 11 raters (five lay leaders, five congregants, …

Mental Silence For Emotional Intelligence Development, Mina N. Nandwani

Theses and Dissertations

While emotional intelligence is considered key for effective leadership, and perhaps the most vital competency for current and emerging leaders to cultivate, there appears to be uncertainty on how to develop it. This study examined how the practice of Sahaja Yoga Meditation (SYM) influences the development of emotional intelligence and contributes to the advancement of global leadership capacities, addressing a gap in the current literature. The conceptual frameworks of SYM, Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence Model, and the literature on global leadership, particularly Jeffrey Sachs’ Ages of Globalization, guided the research question. By implementing a qualitative phenomenological research approach, ten long-time …

Estudio Fenomenológico Sobre La Relación Entre El Liderazgo Transformacional Y La Efectividad De Las Iniciativas De Gestión De Cambio En Las Organizaciones, Greilyn Soto-Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Esta Disertación Aplicada tuvo como propósito explorar la relación entre el liderazgo transformacional y la efectividad de las iniciativas de gestión del cambio en organizaciones de diversos sectores. Este estudio cualitativo se centró en comprender, desde el punto de vista de diferentes lideres transformacionales en distintas áreas e industrias, cómo los líderes y empleados experimentan y perciben el impacto del liderazgo transformacional en la implementación de cambios significativos organizacionales.

Este estudio de naturaleza cualitativa se enmarcó en un enfoque fenomenológico. Mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas en profundidad, se exploraron cuatro dimensiones del liderazgo transformacional: influencia idealizada, motivación inspiradora, estimulación intelectual y consideración …

Midwest Midlevel Professionals' Perspective On Their Entry-Level Experience: Supervisor Leadership And Its Effect On Employee Retention, Joseph Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

For the past three decades, new professionals have been leaving the student affairs field at alarming rates, with around 50% departing within five years of completing their master’s degrees. While numerous studies have explored the reasons behind this exodus, few have examined why the other 50% remain. Moreover, limited research has investigated how servant leadership impacts the retention of these professionals. This basic interpretive qualitative study aimed to understand how leadership’s focus on employee needs influences retention, using the lived experiences of eight mid-level student affairs professionals from large public institutions in the Midwest, each 5-7 years post-master’s degree. Thematic …

Building Resilience, Navigating Crises Since 2019: A Phenomenological Study Of Leadership Factors Influencing Retail Business Owners In Lebanon, Mira Fadel

Theses and Dissertations

The Lebanese population and culture are recognized for their resilience when facing adversity withstanding events such as the Lebanese Civil War, and multiple country invasions. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of retail business owners from different geographical regions and retail types in Lebanon and to identify the leadership factors that kept them resilient while navigating the compounding crises since 2019. The leadership factors included leadership styles, strategies, and agility. The conceptual framework encompassed all leadership factors, the retail industry, cultural context, and resilience. Data for this hermeneutic phenomenology was collected through semi-structured interviews followed …

Exploring Human Resources Practices And Challenges To Retain And Develop Millennial Workers For Future Leadership Roles In The Transportation And Logistics Industry: A Phenomenological Perspective, Graciela Pineda-Blasco

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined Human Resources practices in place in the Transportation and Logistics industry aimed at the retention, and development of millennial talent into future corporate leaders in the industry. Despite extensive literature on millennials, there remains ambiguity regarding their specific traits, behaviors, and commitment within corporate settings.

Given the generationally diverse workforce, it is crucial to understand the unique needs and expectations of different cohorts. This study focuses on millennials' communication styles, technological adaptability, and expectations for training and advancement. The findings highlight significant issues in current corporate culture, particularly in HR retention and training strategies, which are …

Development Of Leader Voice And Leader Silence Scales: How And Why Leaders Choose To Remain Silent Or Speak Up During Situations Of Workplace Aggression, Katherine L. Dickins

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to investigate the factors that drive leaders to speak up or remain silent when witnessing workplace aggression and to develop scales to measure leader voice and leader silence. While research on employee voice and silence exists, leader voice and silence need more theoretical development. I used an exploratory sequential mixed-method design to address these gaps. Subjects: Study one included 26 graduate management students and 35 leaders across multiple industries in the United States who witnessed workplace aggression in their unit. Study 2 included 345 people who supervised others at work. Instruments: Seven open-ended questions asking respondents to …