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.