Kvinnors karriärväg till chef i Svenska kyrkan

The purpose of this work has been to illustrate the career of executive women working in the organization Church of Sweden. Nine female directors where interviewed by using qualitative method. Seven were vicars working as head director or managing director. Two worked as administrative directors. The issue was about possibilities in the work and obstacles along the journey to the position. How did the women view their career to executive?The theoretical perspective in this work was leadership and gender theory.Some themes appeared: to trust your own competence, empowerment, developing the organizational work, to review and responsibility, challenge and learning and to have dared the career step may continue the career. The result showed that a person who is encouraged by others gets a stronger desire to apply for an executive position. Also, the female executives saw possibilities in working ‘as a we’, together with the coworkers. They had experienced that self confidence is necessary for a woman working as a director in an organization where the norm has been male. This work may contribute to the aim in organizations to get a diversity and a parity in executive positions. The scientific and pedagogical aim of the studie is to develop and deliver knowledge about obstacles and possibilities in career advancement to executive