Leadership Journeys of Twelve Women in the Wine Industry: A Qualitative Study

Over the past five years, women's global leadership roles have increased to 42.7%, constituting 39.5% of the overall labor force. In the U.S., despite comprising 47% of the labor force, women hold 42% of leadership positions. Despite educational achievements, women remain underrepresented in leadership, notably in agriculture and the wine industry. This study addressed this gap by exploring gender dynamics in underrepresented wine regions—Oregon, South Africa, and Virginia. Employing a phenomenological approach, 12 participants were selected. Themes such as mentorship, community support, collaboration, gender barriers, pathways to position, and continuous participation emerged through coding, guided by the Social Learning Theory and Centered Leadership Model. The study unveiled six key themes: diverse backgrounds, gender barriers, mentorship, community support, teamwork, and continuous industry immersion.