Inspirational Women Leaders, Part 1: The Challenges and Rewards of Religion, Spirituality, Purpose, and Calling in Leadership - Hardcover

by Chrys Egan (Editor), Stacy Smulowitz (Editor), Mary Tabata (Editor)

Women, leadership, spiritualty, and religion have been complexly interwoven throughout history and cultures. The Inspirational Women Leaders: The Challenges and Rewards of Religion, Spirituality, Purpose, and Calling in Leadership books explore support and obstacles that women leaders face as shaped by religion and spirituality, the impact of historical and contemporary women leaders influenced by their beliefs, and how women leaders practice spiritual leadership in a variety of contexts. For some women, their leadership connects with finding and exploring a sense of purpose, recognizing and following a calling or vocation, and exploring the impacts of religion and spirituality on leadership and society.

By celebrating women leaders and their leadership styles, these books highlight impactful leadership approaches and heartening stories of endurance. Serving as a model and motivation for women leaders, these books also create a community for women leaders around the world.

Part One, focusing on Contemporary Research and Reflections, delves into the profound and often underexplored connection between a woman's leadership in her life and work with her diverse spiritual, religious, or philosophical foundations. Part Two, focusing on Spiritual Women Leaders across Time and Cultures, features historical figures and contemporary leaders from various faith traditions, revealing how their spiritual journeys have shaped their transformative leadership. Both books illuminate how personal beliefs and a sense of greater meaning can be a source of immense strength and a catalyst for unique challenges in a leader's professional and personal life.

The Transformative Women Leaders Series is published in collaboration between the International Leadership Association (ILA) and Emerald Publishing. Celebrating women leaders and the leadership styles they employ to achieve success, the books in this series highlight successful leadership approaches across contexts, time, and cultures.

Author Biography

Dr. Chrys Egan is the Associate Dean of Liberal Arts, Interim Director of the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence, and a Professor of Communication and at Salisbury University in Maryland, USA.

Dr. Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D., ABC, is an Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Communication and Media at The University of Scranton and Executive Director of the Eastern Communication Association. She has a freelance and strategic communication consulting firm and provides guidance to organizational leaders.

Dr. Mary Tabata has over 15 years of experience in higher education and nonprofit management, Mary is an adjunct faculty member at Eastern University, USA in the College of Business and Leadership and the Principal Coach at Phinishing Strong LLC.