Abstract
This dissertation in practice studied the experience of women in the music products industry as they encountered barriers to their career advancement, with the aim of creating awareness of these experiences and the need for change. This qualitative, phenomenological study involved interviewing ten women currently working in the music products industry about their experiences. Transcriptions were coded and themed, identifying five main barriers to career advancement, which created feelings of skepticism/withdrawal, apathy, disappointment, depressions/hurt, confusion, worry/worthlessness, and hope/optimism after the experience. The data found that experiencing a barrier to career advancement for these women meant that their feelings about their job changed from mostly positive to mostly negative or apathetic of the status quo. Workplace gender inequity was identified as a wicked problem, and a framework was proposed to help an organization define and work to change their hierarchical workplace culture into a more inclusive, learning culture that can reduce barriers to career advancement and lead to stronger organizational performance.