Title: Journey of a woman independent director – a case from India

Authors: Lakshmi Murthy; Poornima Tapas

Addresses: ITM University Raipur, Uparwara, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India ' SIBM, Pune, India

Abstract: The study examines the personal narrative and trajectory of women independent directors at board-level positions, focusing on Roma Balwani. Data was collected through a two-hour exploratory interview and a combination of text analysis and content analysis techniques. The research reveals that women with an internal locus of control can achieve sustained career advancement for 25–30 years while maintaining a healthy balance between professional and familial responsibilities. This internal locus of control develops during early life and has lasting effects on women's educational attainment, family dynamics, and professional advancement. This study will enable women leaders to aspire for board positions and learn to balance between career and aspirations. Women can identify support systems, which will facilitate their career aspirations. In turn, it reduces the pipeline-related issues associated with the availability of women directors. This study suggests that mentoring and establishing a support system at the workplace can increase the availability of aspirational women for board positions. Organisations can implement tools like locus of control to identify potential women leaders and groom them for leadership positions.

Keywords: women board directors; internal locus of control; ILOC; India; career development; challenges; corporate governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCA.2025.149510

International Journal of Critical Accounting, 2025 Vol.14 No.4, pp.385 - 411

Received: 15 Jun 2024
Accepted: 02 Apr 2025
Published online: 04 Nov 2025 *

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