Abstract

This qualitative narrative study was conducted to gain leadership stories of effective female university leaders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan. Four research questions were formulated to guide the study. How did you get to this leadership position? How do female leaders tell their stories as authentic leaders? What challenges do they face while leading with authenticity? How do Women University leaders overcome these barriers? In-depth data were obtained by interviewing four female university leaders. These interview were conducted at Women's University of Swabi- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan.. These interviews were hand-coded to generate additional research questions and linked themes. Research shows that women are experiencing a bumpy road to university leadership. Participants experienced barriers related to gender, professional development, and family life. Each leader has had to overcome these obstacles to achieve successful leadership.

Key words: Leadership, Women Leaders, barriers, authenticity.