Contextualizing overseas Chinese women's leadership styles : culture and management.

Abstract

Leadership research often overlooks the importance of contexts. The multiple identities of overseas Chinese female leaders present unique challenges and opportunities which have yet to be considered in leadership results. Focusing on culture and management, this theoretical paper examines their significance to overseas Chinese female leaders. It covers: (1) challenges of female leaders, including gender stereotypes and double-bind dilemma, (2) women’s leadership styles, including its characteristics, dynamic and relation to financial performance of firms, (3) socio-cultural and organizational contextual factors which promote or impede the advancement of overseas Chinese women, and (4) possible strategies to advance overseas Chinese leadership, including transformational leadership style, paternalistic leadership style and other relationship building strategy and (5) future research direction.