Leadership education: the impact of managerial level and gender on learning

Examines the impact of level and gender on the learning of participants who attended a one‐ week leadership education programme. A total of 550 executives and managers from major private and public sector organizations participated in 14 residential seminars. Three‐month follow‐up questionnaire data were collected from 65 per cent of attendees. As predicted, significantly more learning was reported by executives than managers and by women executives than women managers. Uses a combination of social system and role theories to provide an understanding of the obtained level and gender findings. Offers implications for training and practice including the need for institutionally‐sponsored mentoring programmes linked with gender‐sensitive leadership training.