Leadership of Millennial Women in Muhammadiyah Elementary Schools: A Multi-Specific Study of Elementary Schools in Yogyakarta City, Indonesia

Abstract

This study aimed to explore leadership of millennial women principals in Muhammadiyah Elementary Schools in Yogyakarta City, focusing on challenges, support, and contributions to management. Despite the dominance of women in the teaching profession, there is a low representation in leadership positions. A qualitative approach was used with a multi-case design in three Muhammadiyah Elementary Schools led by women principals. The results showed that millennial women principals did not face significant challenges related to sexism or ageism, but experienced challenges such as skepticism related to age and experience. Support from Muhammadiyah organization, family, and professional networks helped in overcoming these challenges effectively. Leadership of millennial women principals showed high effectiveness by adopting four main elements, namely cognition, behavior, attitude, and motivation. The style comprised task-oriented, change-oriented, relations-oriented, and external leadership behavior. Respondents had successfully implemented innovations such as digital transformation, modern financial management, and student exchange programs, which contributed to improving the quality of education. A humanistic approach, providing incentives, and using technology were identified as key elements of success in creating an inclusive and productive work environment. These results indicate that millennial women principals were not only able to lead effectively but also bring positive changes in school management. Support from Muhammadiyah organization, such as training and scholarships, was an important factor in shaping leadership capacity. This study contributes to the development of educational leadership theory, specifically in the Islamic context. It provides practical insights to improve the quality of school management through an inclusive and sustainable approach.