This article examines innovative approaches to supporting women’s leadership in the educational environment
of higher education institutions. Despite significant progress in female representation in academic settings, gender
imbalance in educational leadership remains a critical global challenge. Through analysis of contemporary
theoretical and applied research from American, European, and Asian institutions with varying levels of economic
development, the study identifies key barriers to women’s advancement in academic leadership. These include
cultural factors (entrenched gender norms and male-dominated institutional cultures), psychological barriers
(imposter syndrome and leadership anxiety), and organizational obstacles (glass ceiling phenomena and biased
hiring practices). The research highlights the particular challenges in Kazakhstan, where women constitute
only 26.5 percent of top university leadership despite their substantial representation among higher education
professionals. By examining global best practices and Kazakhstan’s specific context, the study identifies effective
Innovative Approaches including institutional initiatives, structured networking opportunities, formalized
mentoring programs, and family-supportive policies. Based on this analysis, the research proposes forwardthinking interventions for Kazakhstan’s higher education sector: implementing targeted leadership development
programs, enhancing transparency in human resource policies, creating innovative work-life balance solutions,
and establishing robust professional networks for women academics. These innovative approaches aim to
address persistent gender disparities while creating sustainable pathways for women’s leadership advancement
in higher education. The analysis emphasizes the importance of comprehensive, context-sensitive strategies that
adapt proven innovative practices to local educational environments.

 The study of global experience has also made it possible to propose measures that can be adapted for the Kazakhstani context. The article emphasizes the importance of these strategic measures to address gender inequalities and strengthen a comprehensive approach that includes institutional support, leadership skills development and the elimination of gender stereotypes. The results of the study emphasize the need to introduce structured approaches to support women leaders that contribute to the implementation of international commitments to achieve gender equality in the educational environment.