High-flyer women academicians: factors contributing to success Maimunah Ismail, Roziah Mohd Rasdi and Nor Wahiza Abdul Wahat Department of Professional Development and Continuing Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia Abstract Purpose – To investigate the career experiences of women professors in order to gain an in-depth understanding of factors contributing to their present status of profession. Design/methodology/approach – Data were generated from career history method on 31 women professors who have been identified as high-flyers. They were selected based on a criterion that they achieved professorship at the age of 48 years and below. Each respondent was interviewed on questions addressing topics across the entire life stages. Constant comparative analysis of data was conducted to generate themes. Findings – Reveals the factors associated with their fast performance in academia that were divided into two stages, i.e. career exploration, and career establishment and maintenance. Factors dictated at the career exploration stage are early exposure to learning, entrance to boarding schools, first degree experience and personal qualities, while factors that contribute during their establishment and maintenance stage are graduate study experience, career centrality, family support, uniqueness of academic role, health consciousness and sense of religiosity. Research limitations/implications – It involved women professors only in order to understand the complexities of women academicians and their careers. Practical implications – Provides evidence and information on the subjective interpretation of a career in academia, which should be taken into consideration in promotion and selection exercises, especially re women academicians. It also enhances women’s understanding of their own careers and the interplay of other aspects of life as well as organizational environments in their careers. Originality/value – This paper offers practical information to inspired individuals, especially women academicians, in order to achieve professorship. Keywords Gender, High flyers, Women, Higher education, Universities, Career development Paper type Research paper Introduction The participation of women in education as learners and as educators is not a new phenomenon. However, women as academicians, let alone as professors, are considered newcomers in the world of academia. Professor is the highest position in the career ladder of an academician and in that position the person is said to have established in his or her area of specialization. Singh (2002) reports that the percentage of women professors in developing and developed Commonwealth countries ranges from 10 to 20 percent, with an average of 13.1 percent. Malaysia (16.9 per cent), is above the average, found to be higher than the percentages in countries such as Canada (14.5 per cent), The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister www.emeraldinsight.com/0964-9425.htm An earlier version of this paper was presented at the British Academy of Management 2004 Conference. High-flyer women academicians 117 Received April 2004 Revised September 2004 Accepted September 2004 Women in Management Review Vol. 20 No. 2, 2005 pp. 117-132 q Emerald Group Publishing Limited 0964-9425 DOI 10.1108/09649420510584454