Chapter 10: Women’s Leadership Learning Through Global Study in Central and South America

An important angle through which to examine women’s leadership is to understand the experiences of younger women, the next generation of leaders. To narrow the gender gap in leadership, it is vital we focus on and invest in young women in order to understand their leadership development experiences and prepare them for future global leadership. Effective leadership in an increasingly global society requires global understanding and the ability to interact effectively within and across cultures (Earnest, 2003; Hofstede & Hofstede, 2004). This chapter addresses these needs by focusing on the experiences of four college women who participated in a 4-week global leadership program. Through examining the experiences of these women, we provide implications to inform future global leadership education for college women, including study abroad experiences and leadership curriculum.