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This study aims to explore the individual lived crucible experiences of women leaders in higher education (HE) and business as the catalyst to investigate organisational inequality regimes that prevent women leaders from fully participating, contributing and flourishing at work. Drawing upon Bolman and Deal’s four-frame theoretical organisational model, this study analyses women’s lived crucible leadership experiences to better understand the organising processes and practices that render intersectionality invisible that reinforce and perpetuate inequality regimes.

A collaborative autoethnographic research method was selected for data collection. The research team members each selected one significant crucible moment from their professional career and used the Gibb’s six-part reflective cycle to document their narrative and reflect on their leadership experience. A reflexive thematic analysis was used based on Braun and Clarke’s six phases.

The study features the importance of creating a climate in organisations that acknowledges the need for greater equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to support women leaders. Four global themes emerged from the analysis of the leadership narratives: organisation, power dynamics, emotional distress and perseverance and intersectionality. These themes illuminate a greater understanding of organisational life for women and confirm the presence of inequality regimes of gender and race.

This is the first study to explore the impact of women leaders’ crucible experiences through the lens of the Bolman and Deal’s model that highlights the need to consider an EDI lens as the fifth frame.

This chapter presents the opportunities, strategies, and challenges related to an effort to embed a leadership coaching culture into the culture of an academic institution in Nairobi, Kenya. That effort has been the work over the past several years of four Certified Organizational Effectiveness Coaches trained by Coach Development Institute of Africa. Each tells the story of how and why she moved into coach training and why she views coaching as key to driving social change. The chapter describes the strategies they are using to address opportunities they see and challenges they have encountered. The chapter also presents their preliminary thoughts on a coaching model influenced by both Western approaches and African cultural beliefs, values and attitudes.