Open Access Women Leaders Case Series
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The Women Leaders Case Series includes teachable cases about real women business leaders based on primary interview data and secondary research, topics related to culture and gender norms, strengths-based leadership, business diversification, grit and resilience, work-life balance, and so on. Each case includes a teaching note to guide future instructors who may adopt the case for their students, which include teaching strategies, suggested readings, and examples of comments students might make. These cases vary in length and are relevant for a broad audience of learners. Each case is appropriate for existing or aspiring business leaders who want to learn effective management and leadership skills by learning from the example of a female business leader. These cases are also appropriate for graduate or undergraduate business students in classes that discuss business management, leadership, small business entrepreneurship, and/or civic and non-profit leadership.
For Instructors, Teaching Notes are provided for every case. Please visit The Case Centre to verify your instructor role and obtain access to teaching materials.
For Instructors, Teaching Notes are provided for every case. Please visit The Case Centre to verify your instructor role and obtain access to teaching materials.
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Item The Future Vintages of a Cultural Commodity in China: Silver Heights Winery Leader, Emma Gao(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2024) Sanghvi, Shuchi; Sava, Nicholas; Wild, Kelly; Bullough, Amanda; Idowu-Kunlere, TosinThis case study examines the outlook of China’s wine market from 2021 to 2022 with focus on the operations of Silver Heights Winery and its leader, Emma Gao. Due to Western influence and an expanding middle class, China has seen a recent spike in alcohol consumption, particularly with the luxury commodity of wine. Currently, China is one of the world’s leading populations in total wine drank per year, and winemakers from across the world rely heavily on these Asian consumer markets to maintain steady profits. In addition, the Chinese government is eager to become one of the world’s largest producers of wine to take a proverbial sip of these potential profits. The kicker is that in recent years, Chinese consumers seemed less likely to purchase a domestic commodity than their international counterparts, despite China’s growing popularity among wine connoisseurs. This case poses the question of whether Chinese winemakers should attempt to bridge the culture gap between Chinese wine labels and foreign audiences or if it is better to diagnose the issues that would allow them to tap the keg of a huge potential domestic consumer base in China. Learning Outcomes By the end of this case study, students should be able to: • Appraise the need for continued focus on cabernet sauvignon or product diversification. • Identify the competitors of Silver Heights Winery and how the organization can leverage its competitive advantage. • Identify the roles of the leadership of Silver Heights in preparing for global climate change. • Assess Emma Gao’s global mindset competencies and offer suggestions for how she can improve. • Recommend to the leaders of Silver Heights Winery whether to focus their operations on domestic Chinese markets or international markets.Item The Future of Fast Fashion: H&M CEO, Helena Helmersson(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2024) Melia, Lauren; Soja, Marie; Velazquez-Segura, Noe; Bullough, Amanda; Idowu-Kunlere, TosinThe fast fashion industry has long been known for its negative impacts on the environment, and exploitation of workers due to its mass production business model. One brand is leading the charge to rewrite the narrative surrounding fast fashion and make it a greener and safer industry. The current CEO of H&M, Helena Helmersson, is addressing these concerns as part of her long-term vision for the brand to improve. H&M's mission is to embrace sustainability, respect human rights, and make fashion accessible for all. This case study looks at the impact Helmersson and her leadership strategies have had on the sustainability and ethical initiatives at H&M. It will also highlight how she has become a changemaker in the fashion industry by leading with a global mindset and ensuring H&M's focus on sustainability, human rights, diversity in the company, and changes in new market conditions. Learning Outcomes By the end of this case study, the students should be able to: • Appraise Helena Helmersson’s environmental and human rights efforts in alignment with public policy initiatives and UN Goals for sustainability. • Evaluate Helena Helmersson’s Global mindset. • Appreciate how Helena Helmersson evolved the H&M brand to adapt to new market conditions and behaviors.Item Menstrual Health and Women’s Leadership: Flex Co. Global Expansion by Entrepreneur, Lauren Schulte Wang(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2024) Greer, Brett; Maciolek, Michala; Williams, Lea; Bullough, Amanda; Idowu-Kunlere, TosinFlex Co’s vision is to “reimagine and deliver life-changing period products everywhere” by “creating body-positive and life-changing experiences through the products that we make and the conversations we spark” (Wang, 2017). This case examines period poverty and social stigma as issues women and girls face during their menstrual cycle and how insufficient infrastructure impacts women’s menstrual health and hygiene. It also analyzes how Flex Co., the U.S.’s #1 sustainable period brand, can expand its success into the Global Market. It also considers the effectiveness of its marketing strategy in the U.S. market and considerations to adapt or adjust the strategy when marketing to other cultures. Learning Outcomes By the end of this case study, the students should be able to: • Understand how culture shapes the perception of women and girls on their menstrual period, especially in developing countries. • Identify the challenges women and girls face in maintaining healthy menstrual hygiene. • Reflect on how the company leaders can turn their pain points into a global solution that many can access, just as Lauren Schulte Wang did. • Explore the growth opportunities for global expansion available to Flex Co.Item Striving to Fix Social Problems: The Better Woman Foundation, Uganda(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2024) Dunham, Aynsley; Gill, Ava; Hayden, Cam; Baker, Christine; Peng, Shihong; Bullough, AmandaThis case study examines the Better Women Foundation (BWF), a Ugandan nonprofit organization with the goal of helping Ugandan women and girls who face challenges related to education, healthcare, income generation, and gender-based violence. Topics included in the study include difficulties in promoting the organization, obtaining funding, recruiting and retaining volunteers, and infrastructure issues—particularly a lack of access to clean drinking water and reliable internet access and poor website construction—that hinder the ability of the organization to obtain funding or promote itself. Learning Outcomes By the end of this case study, the students should: ● Recognize common issues of financial resource scarcity facing nonprofits. ● Learn about the challenges that women in rural areas like Uganda face daily related to accessing clean water. ● Understand the importance of human capital to the success of a nonprofit organization. ● Appreciate the challenges and value of internet marketing and website formation for nonprofits.Item Struggling to Educate Children: Erevuka Dada, Kenya(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2024) Dunham, Aynsley; Reilly, Lexi; Stoll, Kameron; Reeves, Stephen; Bullough, AmandaErevuka Dada is a Kenyan nonprofit organization focused on providing sexual and reproductive health education to children in the rural east coast of Kenya. Unfortunately, the organization is struggling to establish programs or grow due to a lack of funding resulting from a lack of internal structure. Topics for discussion include the importance of written business plans and budgets and the value of mission and vision statements. Learning Outcomes By the end of this case, students should: ● Understand the importance of written business documents in obtaining funding for nonprofit organizations. ● Appreciate the need for clear professional structures and internet visibility for a nonprofit’s credibility and ability to carry out its mission. ● Consider possible challenges with the location of the business vis-à-vis the leaders.Item Lacking Motivation, Legitimacy, and Structure: The Case of Être Une Femme, a Cote d’Ivoire Non-profit(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2024) Dunham, Aynsley; Mastronardi, Jack; Ruoff, Grace; Jones, Lynn; Bullough, AmandaThis case study examines Être Une Femme, a nonprofit organization in Côte d’Ivoire, known in English as the Ivory Coast in West Africa, to defend the right to education for women and girls, to empower women and girls to be financially independent and to speak out against domestic violence and defend the victims. Topics discussed in this case include difficulties in motivating leadership in a non-profit, considering limited success from their efforts and an inability to receive monetary incentives and support. This case also explores interweaving needs and structures to ensure tasks can be completed to realize the organization’s mission and goals. Learning Outcomes By the end of this case, students should: ● Understand the importance of motivation among the leaders of an organization and how to motivate others ● Appreciate clear professional procedures and internal structures for a non-profit’s ability to carry out its mission.Item Overcoming Sexism and Economic Setbacks: Entrepreneur, Naumeena Suhail(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleyNaumeena Suhail is an entrepreneur and single mother in Karachi, Pakistan, who owns and operates The Design Firm, a marketing and social media/website design company serving banks and other companies in Pakistan and abroad. This case focuses on the struggles Naumeena has faced while conducting business in Pakistan, particularly those caused by economic challenges and sexism.Item Grit and the Uphill Climb in Computer Science: Entrepreneur, Mahrukh Qadeer(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleyMahrukh Qadeer is a female entrepreneur in Pakistan working in the field of computer science. Pakistani cultural norms can be restricting for women, often limiting them to maintaining the home and caring for children or working in the garment industry. Moreover, computer science is a typically male-dominated field, even in cultures without such restrictions on women's activities. This case explains how Mahrukh overcame these cultural norms and the challenges she faced while forging her career.Item Seeing Entrepreneurship and a Blind Chef: Entrepreneur, Laura Martinez(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleyLaura Martinez is a blind woman who became an entrepreneur in the culinary field. She became the first blind person to train at Le Cordon Bleu and subsequently opened her restaurant, La Diosa, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. This case examines Laura's challenges in becoming a chef and how she overcame them through determination and confidence in herself. Specific focus is given to the negative views of disabilities and disabled people that Laura contended with and how those can have an adverse impact on disabled people.Item Building A Brand: From Entrepreneur, Humera Fatima(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleyHumera Fatima is a Pakistani entrepreneur in the fashion and stationary design fields. She pursued this career despite her father's expectation that she would be a secretary for their family business and Pakistani cultural norms discouraging women from working. This case will explore how Humera felt emboldened to pursue her creative career despite these cultural obstacles.Item Authentic Leadership and the Leadership Paradox: The Balancing Act of Leading a Small Business(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleyThis case examines the issues faced by Georgia Wilkins, a small business owner who co-owns an advertising firm with her husband. Issues discussed include how Georgia created the culture in her business, the tension between being an owner and boss versus a teammate and friend to her staff, and the difficulties she faces due to being in business with her spouse. The solutions Georgia found are presented for students to review and discuss.Item Experiences of Womanhood in Business Consulting and Web Design: Entrepreneur, Emily Lonigro(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleyThis case examines the effects of gender on women's careers and the balancing act that women negotiate with their husbands to grow their businesses. It especially focuses on societal expectations of mothers and gender discrimination in majority-male career fields. These are explored through the story of a female business owner named Emily Lonigro. Also discussed are her methods of handling the gender-related adversity she faced, and how she navigated economic problems that threatened her company.Item Employee Empowerment & Strengths-based Leadership: Small Business Development with Entrepreneur, Elizabeth Colón(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleyThis case examines how small business owner Elizabeth Colon improved her work-life balance and efficiency in her company by delegating and adopting a strengths-based leadership style. Special attention is given to the unique issues Ms Colon faced as an entrepreneur, especially a female entrepreneur, which necessitated a need for change in her organization. Students are asked to examine the problems faced by Ms Colon prior to the adoption of a new leadership style and to make their own suggestions regarding how she could improve her business.Item Swimming Upstream: The Resilience and Strength of Entrepreneur, Ayesha Hamza(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleyAyesha Hamza is a Pakistani woman who owns and runs two fashion businesses despite Pakistan's cultural expectation that women are homemakers. This case explores how Ayesha harnessed her own power to create her businesses, despite the backlash she faced from family and strangers for violating social norms. The case evaluates how Ayesha found the personal strength to succeed in the face of cultural adversity.Item Flourishing Despite Adversity: Resilience & Self-belief from Entrepreneur, Anadil Khan(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleyAnadil Khan is an entrepreneur from Karachi, Pakistan who has worked in the textile sourcing industry and the Pakistani women’s apparel industry since the year 2000. This case explores the dangers she faced in Karachi during the height of Pakistan’s political turmoil and struggles with terrorism. It further explores how she was able to overcome these issues by changing her company’s focus to a related industry that was less affected by the political tensions of the time. Anadil ultimately reopened, redefined, and rebranded her company successfully.Item Forging Ahead with Passion and Spousal Support: Safia Mustafa(Women’s Leadership Initiative, Lerner College of Business & Economics, University of Delaware, 2023) Bullough, Amanda; Dunham, AynsleySafia Mustafa is a woman entrepreneur in Pakistan. She owns and operates Eskillstech, a company specializing in marketing through social media, website, and graphic design. Pakistani cultural norms typically restrict women to maintaining the home and caring for children, and women rarely participate in the workforce. This case reviews how Safia was challenged by, and overcame, these cultural norms while forging her career. It also presents a spouse’s role in an entrepreneur’s pursuit of business goals and the importance of an entrepreneur’s passion for her business.