Breaking The Glass Ceiling: An Analysis Of Women’s Leadership Roles In The Banking Sector Of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

This study examines the impact of women’s leadership on institutional performance in the banking sector, with a particular focus on the mediating effects of organizational, cultural, and personal barriers. Primary data collected from 426 respondents across public and private banks reveal that women leaders are most strongly recognized for building inclusive workplace cultures, fostering participatory decision-making, and promoting team communication. Regression analyses confirm a strong and positive relationship between women’s leadership contributions and institutional performance, with nearly 74% of the variance in performance explained by women leaders’ roles. However, the findings also show that leadership contributions are constrained by systemic barriers, with cultural and organizational factors exerting the strongest influence, while personal barriers are also significant but less dominant. The results highlight the interconnected nature of these barriers and emphasize that women’s leadership effectiveness is maximized when systemic obstacles are addressed. The study concludes that enhancing women’s leadership requires integrated strategies that combine organizational reforms, cultural transformation, and personal capacity development to achieve equitable and sustainable institutional growth.