How Do Indiana Women of Achievement Awardees Support Preskill and Brookfield’s Learning as a Way of Leading Framework?

Abstract

In 2009, Preskill and Brookfield published Learning as a Way of Leading: Lessons from the Struggle for Social Justice that describes nine learning tasks characterizing organic leaders. These include being open to the contributions of others, critical reflection, supporting the growth of others, collective leadership, analyzing experience, questioning, democracy, sustaining hope in the face of struggle, and creating community. This research study connects the life experiences of selected Indiana Women of Achievement awardees to the leadership model but also shares characteristics that do not align with the model. This study highlights issues of how women’s leadership, social change, and transformation are manifested throughout their life journeys. We present examples of the model through 18 stories: two women for each of the nine characteristics. Other themes also emerged, including strong connections to their families, determination, perseverance, and achievement of goals.