Context is key: Using intersectionality and sensemaking to unlock new doors in leadership theory

Abstract

This research explores differences in how marginalized groups in leadership roles within the South African private sector engage in sensemaking, influenced by intersecting gender and race identities. Primary data was collected with semi-structured intersectional interviews. Thematic and axial coding was carried out. Coded data was tagged and quantitized to determine which forms of sensemaking occurred and how each sub-group of participants arrived at that form of sensemaking. Findings suggest that gender and racial identities significantly shape sensemaking processes, with notable differences in how meaning is constructed across sub-groups. By integrating intersectionality, sensemaking, and identity work, the study challenges traditional leader-centric theories that often overlook the role of social context in shaping leadership experiences. This study contributes to leadership theory by providing a nuanced understanding of how marginalized identities navigate leadership roles and construct meaning in a historically unequal social context. These insights also offer practical implications for advancing inclusive and contextually relevant leadership practices.