WOMEN LEADERSHIP AND GLOBAL POWER: EVIDENCE FROM THE UNITED STATES AND LATIN AMERICA

This paper examines leadership theories along with the advancement of women within the United States as well as in Latin America. Data from an exploratory survey of 19 women executives in Latin America and 19 women executives in the United States suggest that globalization has transformed the way in which organizations perceive and carry out leadership today. Globalization has paved the way for a new type of leadership style that is more collaborative and less hierarchal, in which relationship building and teamwork are critical. Data also suggest that women have emerged as effective leaders carrying out this new leadership style and their success has led to higher company profitability. This paper concludes by exploring ways in which corporations can maintain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace and how we, as humans, can begin to transform societies to cope with the Flat World while creating a flexible labor force and successful leaders.