Abstract
This study identified barriers to leadership emergence and documented leadership behaviors of a purposeful sample of successful women in private faith-based institutes of higher education. Gender, glass ceiling, mentorship, collaboration, and observation emerged as the four main themes that undergird most barriers to leadership in this context. Using a qualitative multiple case study methodology approach, the study also uncovered ways transformational leadership can be used as a developmental tool to overcome these barriers. Interviews, historical research, observation, and field notes were gathered to illustrate different perspectives on experiences and behaviors of women in private faith-based institutes of higher education. The results of these interviews established a framework for disseminating and applying information, tips, and insights on transformational leadership behaviors among women in this context through the use of a mobile app for leadership development. The proposed app provides an interactive, practical approach to facilitating leadership development whereby transformational leadership strategies are collectively shared to promote and encourage women in private faith-based higher education settings to pursue and continue their leadership development.