Abstract

Education and school years impact leadership development, but this development has still been little studied.
This study contributes Finnish female leaders’ narratives to the discussion. The purpose was to analyze how
female leaders describe their school years and themselves as learners and how these elements have shaped their
careers. The following questions were set for this research: (1) How do female leaders describe the significance
of school in the light of their career development? and (2) How did female leaders experience school going and
their school years? This was a qualitative study employing a narrative approach and in which ten female leaders
were interviewed. Women’s activity and social relationships appeared the most important factors in their study
paths when considered from the perspective of leadership development. Based on the findings, the role and
meaning of school experiences in becoming a leader were discussed.

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