1

Purpose – This paper outlines some of the social, cultural, political and economic conditions in which four of only seven women who have become Rectors of public universities in Vietnam. Their experiences are described with a focus on the context of Vietnam in order to focus more clearly on non-western starting points for theory about career development in higher education in Vietnam and other non-western settings. Design/methodology/approach – A combination of historical and personal accounts is used to situate the points of view of Vietnamese women and to argue for the processes of becoming a Rector as an important and significant point for understanding how women gain entry to high-status and previously all-male domains. Findings – Findings demonstrate that while family/career relationships are crucial in reporting these women’s experiences, too much emphasis on these aspects can divert attention away from the conditions historically blocking the initial journey into high-status parts of an organisation. These processes in which the is initiated cannot be fully contained within western theory and literature. Research limitations/implications – The sample size of four is a limitation and the interviews do no