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Purpose Gender differences in leadership and issues around differential progression of male and female leaders are receiving more attention in the fields of human resource and leadership development. However, little is known about how interventions designed to support female leaders are being experienced within real-world contexts of global organizations. There is limited research and discussion on how such interventions are experienced at a more systemic level. This study aims to contribute at this very level. Design/methodology/approach This study reports on a predominantly coaching-based development program that was designed to further the careers of female leaders within a complex multi-national organization. The study was conducted in a large, global health-care corporation employing 100,000 people based in over 120 countries. The qualitative research design for this study was exploratory, involving a reflexive process at each of the two stages. Findings The findings from this qualitative research take the debate on “the gendered organization” further by including the voices of female leaders. They demonstrate that whilst theoretically the concept of the “ideal worker” may inhibit progression, this is not necessarily a barrier to career advancement. Coaching, both individual and group, is shown to have a powerful effect on promoting reflection, self-confidence and focus. Research limitations/implications There are two research limitations. While confidentiality was promised, the responses of some interviewees were nevertheless still guarded. Other limitations relate to the extent to which this study can be generalized to other contexts, as it was conducted inside a single global corporation. Originality/value The study addresses the complex and urgent topic of differential progression and makes a broader contribution by offering a systemic perspective on gender and development in global organizations.

Female leadership development has become a key issue in organisation's strategy to ensure equal representation of male and female leaders throughout organisations, including top management. This article investigates the deployment of a combined programme of executive and group coaching to support female leader development in a multinational. Drawing on the experiences of key stakeholders: clients, coaches and the programme team using a case study approach, it offers a rich depiction of this novel use of dual forms of coaching. The findings and discussion identify the personal value of individual executive coaching, the collective value of group coaching and the synergies achieved from the interplay of the simultaneous use of both forms of coaching within the organisation, and beyond. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for our understanding of coaching as a social process, the effect of combining coaching approaches, and female leader development, emphasising the need for further research on coaching as a social process as part of leadership development.

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