June 03, 2025

S2-Ep52b: How Purpose-Driven Women Redefine What It Means to Lead

16 minutes

Guest: Dr. Karen Longman, Professor Emerita, Azusa Pacific University

Why do so many capable, driven women still get overlooked for top leadership roles—and what can we do about it?

In this powerful episode, host Maureen Metcalf sits down with Dr. Karen Longman, a global scholar on leadership and gender equity, to unpack the deep-rooted biases that shape how we define (and reward) leadership. There are clear differences in how men and women lead: men tend to lead for power and hierarchy, while women tend to be purpose-driven.

With insights from cutting-edge research, real-world data, and a global lens, this conversation challenges assumptions and provides actionable steps for anyone on a leadership journey, especially those ready to build a more inclusive, performance-driven future.

Here's what Karen and Maureen cover:

The internal and external barriers women still face on their career path;

What research says about how women lead differently, and why it matters; and

What companies can do to unlock this untapped leadership potential.

Produced in conjunction with the International Leadership Association: https://ilaglobalnetwork.org/.

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

Lessons on Growing Women Leaders with Dr. Susan Madsen

The Leadership Balancing Act: A Woman CEO on Work, Life, & Leading Inclusively with Michelle Harrison

WE Empower – The Women Winning the SDG Goals Challenge with Hadeel Anabtawi & Habiba Ali with Amanda Ellise

For daily wisdom from our guests, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn. We’re onTikTok, Threads, and Twitter, too!

RESOURCES:

Karen’s books in the women in leadership series include:

Women and Leadership in Higher Education (available at https://amzn.to/4dQ9fxu)

Women and Leadership Around the World (https://amzn.to/4mKC02w)

The book on women’s opportunities worldwide is Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Sheryl WuDunn & Nicholas Kristoff. It’s on Amazon at https://amzn.to/45oreJd.

Our host Maureen Metcalf posts a newsletter every week on LinkedIn. You can subscribe here.

Maureen’s latest book is Innovative Leadership & Followership in the Age of AI. You’ll find details about it at https://bit.ly/LeaderInAI, or check out the Kindle version at https://amzn.to/44buVz8. The audiobook version is now available at https://amzn.to/4dTCleZ.

Her other 10 books are available on Amazon here.

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OUR PODCAST TEAM:

Host & Executive Producer: Maureen Metcalf

Editor & Executive Producer: Dan Mushalko

Graphics Editor: Stacia Rogan

Booking Producer: Jenna Reik

CONNECT WITH US:

YouTube: @InnovatingLeadership

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ILI-LinkedIn2

Website: InnovativeLeadershipInstitute.com

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating!

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About Our Guest:

Karen A. Longman, PhD, joined the Azusa Pacific University faculty in 2006. Prior to coming to APU, Longman served for six years as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Greenville College (IL) and for 19 years as Vice President for Professional Development and Research at the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, based in Washington, D.C. She continues to serve as a Senior Fellow with the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities and has coordinated Leadership Development Institutes for emerging leaders within the CCCU since 1998. She served as an editorial board member and reviewer for Research on Christian Higher Education and has been a Staley Distinguished Lecturer at numerous colleges and universities.

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