Women have historically served multiple roles. Currently, women perform 66% of the world's work, produce half of the world's food, and invest 90% of their income back into their families. The mission of the Women in Leadership: Work-Life Balance Project is to explore the challenges of women from around the globe through its three components – research; a digital library/website to share your story; and an annual academic conference.

 

Through its research arm, the Project seeks to understand the roles of women, and the strategies used for work-family integration throughout the world via personal narratives. The research component provides a theoretical framework based on the life course.

 

Initiated in 2009 under the leadership of Dr. Margaret J Weber, the research focuses on women and their strategies to integrate, balance and navigate their daily professional and personal lives. Women share their stories through written or audio interviews reflecting on beliefs, values and decisions and the implications for their professional and personal lives. Interviews are analyzed around four themes: identity, motivation, relational style and adaptive style. To date, over 400 interviews have been conducted across the United States. Internationally, interviews have been conducted with women in India, Nigeria and Iran. Other interviews are in process for Norway.

 

The digital interview library allows women from around the world to participate in the research. As a repository for interviews, the digital library site allows women to submit their narratives for the database online. As stories are added, the narratives will be available for research purposes.  Several doctoral students are using the data for dissertations.

 

The annual academic conference engages scholars and professionals from all sectors to share their wisdom to impact the future for themselves and the next generation of women and men. Conference presenters offer research that enhances opportunities for women to live meaningful lives of purpose and leadership.  The forth annual conference was held in Los Angeles, California on March 24-25, 2016 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel.