What 'recipe for success' does Professor Aparna Joshi identify for female leaders in male-dominated industries, based on Dow Inc.'s appointment of Karen Carter as its first woman CEO?

Professor Aparna Joshi identifies a 'recipe for success' consisting of three key elements: long-term succession planning, appointing an insider female successor, and ensuring the predecessor remains actively involved after the transition. She emphasizes that this architectural approach—particularly the continued engagement of a long-tenured predecessor—significantly enhances the effectiveness of female leaders in industries where male leadership schemas are deeply entrenched.

Why does Professor Aparna Joshi consider the predecessor's continued involvement critical to the success of a woman CEO like Karen Carter at Dow Inc.?

Professor Aparna Joshi considers the predecessor's continued involvement critical because it provides institutional continuity, legitimacy, and mentorship that help counteract implicit biases and entrenched expectations around male leadership. In contexts where male leadership schemas dominate, such sustained support from a respected predecessor enables the new woman CEO to navigate organizational resistance more effectively and assert authority without having to overcome credibility deficits alone.

Aparna Joshi Discusses Dow’s Historic Move Naming Woman as CEO

May 18, 2026

Professor Aparna Joshi analyzes Dow Inc.'s appointment of Karen Carter as its first female CEO, emphasizing succession planning strategies for women in male-dominated chemical industries.

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