A Qualitative Study on Exploring the Underrepresentation of Women of Color in Fortune 500 Executive Leadership

Abstract

In this study the researcher examined the persistent underrepresentation of women of color in senior leadership roles within Fortune 500 companies. Despite the increasing number of highly qualified women of color, access to executive-level leadership opportunities remains disproportionately limited. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the barriers experienced by women of color in advancing to senior leadership positions and to identify strategies used to navigate these barriers. The researcher collected data through semistructured interviews with 10 women of color in management and senior leadership roles, each with over 15 years of professional experience in the United States. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns of shared meaning across participant experiences. The findings revealed eight key themes, including limited access to sponsorship, exclusion from informal networks, shifting performance expectations, strategic self-advocacy, resilience, and the need for political navigation within corporate environments. Participants described navigating systemic barriers while developing adaptive strategies to advance within their organizations. The study concludes that leadership advancement for women of color is influenced not only by knowledge, skills, and abilities, but also by access to relationships, sponsorship, and organizational power structures. These findings highlight the need for intentional organizational practices that promote equitable advancement pathways and support inclusive leadership development. Keywords: women of color, resilience, self-advocacy, qualitative research, intersectionality, systemic barrier