Much current theory and debate about the slow pace of women’s ascent to the top levels of economic organisations has ignored the identity processes involved in coming to see oneself, and be seen by others, as a leader. In this lecture, Herminia will argue that subtle, often invisible forms of gender bias – stemming from workplace structures, cultures, and patterns of interaction that unintentionally exclude women – shape, and often interfere with, the identity work involved in becoming a leader. The crucial task of internalizing a leader identity is fraught from the outset for women, who must establish credibility in settings where they are underrepresented numerically and implicit models of effective leadership who are male-typed.