Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Management

Advisor

Daphne Halkias

Abstract

AbstractBlack men's motivation to lead across industry sectors tends to be overlooked, creating further disparities between Black and White individuals in high-ranking corporate positions. As of 2021, of the 519 U.S. primary commercial service airports, fewer than 10 were led by African American men. Since management scholars began to address Black representation in the corporate world in the 1990s, a literature gap existed on the leadership experiences of Black men in airport management. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to gain a deeper understanding of Black men's lived experiences with their motivation to lead in the airport management sector. This study was framed by Harl and Roberts's concept of racial diversity in aviation and Chan and Drasgow's concept of the motivation to lead. Data were collected from a purposeful sample of nine participants using virtual semistructured interviews. Moustakas's modified Van Kaam method was the data analysis strategy from which eight meaningful themes emerged: early role models of leadership, lifelong experiences of systemic racism, intrinsic motivation to lead, extrinsic motivation to lead, self-efficacy and the motivation to lead, diversity and inclusion challenges within the airport management sector, career trajectory as a leader in aviation, and inspiring the next generation of Black leaders. The findings may contribute to positive social change by driving policy initiatives that address racial bias in hiring and promotion in the airport management sector and may inspire young Black men to pursue a career with an upward trajectory to leadership positions.

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