Women’s leadership in science, technology and engineering in Kazakhstan: institutional, organizational, and individual factors of career advancement

The development of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is a key driver of innovation and national economic competitiveness. Despite women’s growing participation in STEM education and hightechnology sectors, their representation in leadership positions remains limited, indicating persistent barriers to career advancement. This study examines the mechanisms through which institutional, organizational, and individual factors shape women’s career trajectories and advancement to leadership positions in Kazakhstan’s STEM sectors. A mixed-methods design combined semi-structured in-depth interviews with an expert online survey of women working in STEM, enabling comparison of individual professional experiences with broader career patterns. The findings show that women’s advancement depends not only on professional qualifications but also on institutional and organizational conditions and individual career strategies. Key barriers include gender stereotypes, organizational constraints, and limited access to professional networks, strategic projects, and professional trust. Leadership development, in turn, is supported by mentoring, professional motivation, strategic thinking, and participation in professional communities. Rather than merely documenting the gender gap between women’s participation in STEM and their representation in leadership, the study explains how this gap is produced. The proposed conceptual model demonstrates how institutional, organizational, and individual factors interact to shape career trajectories. The findings may inform gender equality policies, organizational human resource practices, and mentoring and leadership development programs in Kazakhstan’s STEM sectors.

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