Phenomenological study: Women who hold board of director positions in life sciences and technology businesses

The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological study was to identify the common factors and competencies associated with the advancement of women into board of director positions. The study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of a purposive sample of 15 women who hold or have held board of director (BOD) positions within 5 years of the study and for 12 consecutive months in the technology or life sciences industries in the United States. Semi-structured telephone interviews were employed to extract the common factors and competencies associated with the advancement of women into BOD positions. Major themes extracted from the interviews were: Participants perceived serving on the board of directors as strategic and skill-based; continued personal development resulted in improved skills and confidence; successful board of directors are efficient and flexible, and establish boundaries and structure with regard to the work-life balance; networking and work experience are key factors that assist women to procure board of directors positions; mentoring and peer support is beneficial to women who wish to attain a board of directors position; bias and self-imposed barriers are the major factors that inhibit ascension to board of directors positions; and barriers can be overcome with the correct mindset and experience. Analysis of the results elicited recommendations for businesses, leadership associations, women in business, and future research.