Locks and keys to the boardroom

Susan Vinnicombe; Val Singh

doi:10.1108/09649420310491495

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Women In Management Review

ISSN: 0964-9425
Currently published as: Gender in Management: An International Journal

Online from: 1985

Subject Area: Human Resource Management

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Locks and keys to the boardroom

Document Information:
Title:	Locks and keys to the boardroom
Author(s):	Susan Vinnicombe, (Susan Vinnicombe is Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Diversity Management, at the Centre for Developing Women Business Leaders, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK.), Val Singh, (Val Singh is Senior Research Fellow in Organisational Behaviour, at the Centre for Developing Women Business Leaders, Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University, Cranfield, UK.)
Citation:	Susan Vinnicombe, Val Singh, (2003) "Locks and keys to the boardroom", Women In Management Review, Vol. 18 Iss: 6, pp.325 - 333
Keywords:	Boards of directors, Career development, Directors, Gender
Article type:	Research paper
DOI:	10.1108/09649420310491495 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	MCB UP Ltd
Abstract:	This paper reports an interview study with 12 directors in a major international telecommunications company, to identify the career paths which they took to reach board level in their organisation. The aim was to ascertain whether there were gender differences in the career facilitators and barriers met en route to the top. The six male and six female directors were asked about the further obstacles which they perceived would have to be faced. Visibility through mentoring and challenge was the facilitator which led to success in their earlier careers. Using Kirchmeyer’s classification, evidence was found to support her four categories of barriers in this UK sample: human capital (lack of qualifications and languages in a globalised world); individual (being aggressive, being female, impostor syndrome); interpersonal (gaining entry to organisational politics); and family determinants. For both men and women, family roles impacted their energy levels at work. It was found that the career hurdles and facilitators were very similar for both men and women directors.