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Inspirational Women Leaders, Part 2
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09 September 2026
Women, leadership, spiritualty, and religion have been complexly interwoven throughout history and cultures. The Inspirational Women Leaders: The Challenges and Rewards of Religion, Spirituality, Purpose, and Calling in Leadership books explore support and obstacles that women leaders face as shaped by religion and spirituality, the impact of historical and contemporary women leaders influenced by their beliefs, and how women leaders practice spiritual leadership in a variety of contexts. For some women, their leadership connects with finding and exploring a sense of purpose, recognizing and following a calling or vocation, and exploring the impacts of religion and spirituality on leadership and society.
By celebrating women leaders and their leadership styles, these books highlight impactful leadership approaches and heartening stories of endurance. Serving as a model and motivation for women leaders, these books also create a community for women leaders around the world.
Part One, focusing on Contemporary Research and Reflections, delves into the profound and often underexplored connection between a woman's leadership in her life and work with her diverse spiritual, religious, or philosophical foundations. Part Two, focusing on Spiritual Women Leaders across Time and Cultures, features historical figures and contemporary leaders from various faith traditions, revealing how their spiritual journeys have shaped their transformative leadership. Both books illuminate how personal beliefs and a sense of greater meaning can be a source of immense strength and a catalyst for unique challenges in a leader's professional and personal life.
The Transformative Women Leaders Series is published in collaboration between the International Leadership Association (ILA) and Emerald Publishing. Celebrating women leaders and the leadership styles they employ to achieve success, the books in this series highlight successful leadership approaches across contexts, time, and cultures.
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Leadership, Management: leadership and motivation, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Women in Business, BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Business Ethics, Organizational theory and behaviour, Business ethics and social responsibility
Dr. Chrys Egan is the Associate Dean of Liberal Arts, Interim Director of the Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence, and a Professor of Communication and at Salisbury University in Maryland, USA.
Dr. Stacy Smulowitz, Ph.D., ABC, is an Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Communication and Media at The University of Scranton and Executive Director of the Eastern Communication Association. She has a freelance and strategic communication consulting firm and provides guidance to organizational leaders.
Dr. Mary Tabata has over 15 years of experience in higher education and nonprofit management, Mary is an adjunct faculty member at Eastern University, USA in the College of Business and Leadership and the Principal Coach at Phinishing Strong LLC.
Foreword; Susan R. Madsen and Karen A. Longman
Introduction; Chrys Egan, Stacy Smulowitz, and Mary Tabata
Chapter 1. Queen Esther: Courageous Leader the World Needs Now; Randal Joy Thompson
Chapter 2. Spiritual Leadership through Societal Persecution: St. Cecilia, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Marie-Hermine of Jesus and Risk Taking; Christina L. McDowell Marinchak and Amelia Okulewicz
Chapter 3. Lady Fatima and Lady Zainab: Exemplars of Resilience and Spiritual Leadership; Syeda Ainee Ali
Chapter 4. Leadership, Narrative and Metaphor in Saint Hildegard of Bingen’s Life and Writings; Vaughan S. Roberts
Chapter 5. Retreating for Leadership: Lessons from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton; Jen Jones and Janie Harden Fritz
Chapter 6. Kasturba Kapadia-Gandhi: One of the Most Influential, Yet Forgotten, Women of the 20th Century; Brian Polkinghorn and Tushar Gandhi
Chapter 7. The Enduring Legacy of Henrietta Mears: The Transforming Architect of Modern Evangelicalism; Patricia A. Clary
Chapter 8. “One Also Has to Know How to Lose”: The Role of Suffering in Milada Horáková’s Spiritual Leadership; Joshua M. Hayden and Jessica W. Hench
Chapter 9. The Inspirational Leadership of Pema Chödrön: Compassionate Action toward Others; Annette M. Holba
Chapter 10. Feminism, Faith, and a Presidential First: How Spiritual Leadership Can Invite Understanding in Higher Education; Suzy D'Enbeau
Chapter 11. A Light to My Path: How a Vice President’s Faith Guides Her Everyday Efforts and Lasting Legacy to Overcome the Six Drivers of Burnout; Sherrie A. Lynn