Psychological Capital and the Journey of Executive Women

This qualitative, phenomenological study examined the psychological success factors of the executive woman as well as the use of psychological capital. Open-ended, semi-structured interviews were conducted to determine what these women considered success strategies and to determine the extent these executives used the tenants of hope, optimism, resilience, and self- efficacy as psychological strategies for success. Twenty female executives with the titles of Vice-President, Senior Vice-President, President, CEO, COO, CNO, Dean, Assistant Dean, and General Counsel were interviewed. The results indicate that determination in hard work, attitude, and risk taking were the most common strategies women listed as contributors to their success. Additionally, all women reported using optimism, resilience, and self-efficacy as means to succeed. Hope was used as a strategy in eighteen of the twenty females, with two females indicating that hope is not a resource they used at all.