LIFT as leadership practice

Cultivating identity, influence, and belonging for women in the third space

Abstract

In an era of rapid institutional and digital transformation, navigating leadership in higher education’s third space presents complex identity challenges, particularly for women. Through an interactive autoethnographic process, five participants in the ASCILITE Community Mentoring Program for Women in Leadership (CMP-WiPL) explored these challenges over 18 months, combining personal reflection, peer dialogue, and professional identity practice. Through iterative cycles of self-assessment, professional identity building on LinkedIn, and collaborative discussions within our WiPL Community of Practice (CoP), the group created and refined the Leadership Identity Framework for Transformation (LIFT). Informed by theoretical models of professional identity, third space capabilities, and Communities of Practice, LIFT offers a practical and adaptable approach to scaffold identity development, address imposter syndrome, and fosters inclusive leadership. Findings highlight the power of collective sense-making, digital tools, and structured reflection in supporting professional growth. By framing leadership as a continuous reflective journey, this work provides a sustainable model for enabling confident, authentic leadership in higher education and the third space sectors shaped by uncertainty and change.