Gender equality in the workplace remains a global issue, especially in India, where only 37% of women work, below the global average of 53.4%. Indian women often face career breaks due to cultural expectations around caregiving and patrilocality, leading to non-linear career paths. These challenges make career planning complex, as their goals differ from those on linear trajectories. This mixed-method study explores how workplace social capital, particularly role models, supports women's career development. The present study used a mixed method design to understand the how social capital within workplace may help women in retaining and growing within their careers.
The first study was a qualitative study exploring the career narratives of 28 Indian women employees using a semi structured interview. The thematic analysis showed that role models emerged as an important source of inspiration for women in planning their careers. They inspire a can do attitude, offer a world of possibilities that are attainable; or changing a career path that did not have promise growth for women. Further, role models also help create a mindset of possibilities specially when women navigate transitions, especially motherhood.
Study two surveyed 200 full-time female employees, confirming the positive impact of role models on career planning through regression analysis. Thus, the findings of both the studies show that role models can contribute to career planning in women by increasing their efficacy beliefs to set career goals and navigate cultural expectations and professional roles. Role models are also important to inspire Indian women to have career ambitions that might be missing in their nurturance along with the understanding of possibility of goal achievement. Thus, more visibility to female role models will facilitate careers of larger female workforce.