In this thesis, I am exploring the portrayal of female leadership in contemporary media, with a specific focus on emotional intelligence and transformational leadership. Using a qualitative content analysis, I will analyze how these leadership traits are depicted through a female character in a business drama series, without directly naming the show or character in the title for professionalism – but it should be mentioned in the paper, TV Show Billions – Wendy Rhodes. – sampling , methodology, coding for content analysis etc..
The research is guided by transformational leadership theory, which highlights the ability of leaders to inspire, motivate, and foster personal growth in their followers, and emotional intelligence, which emphasizes the capacity to understand and manage emotions in oneself and others. My goal is to understand how female leaders in media, who often operate in male-dominated environments, navigate leadership challenges and whether their portrayals reinforce or challenge traditional gender norms.
By focusing on key episodes where the character’s leadership is prominent, I aim to provide insights into how media shapes perceptions of female leaders and the importance of emotional intelligence in effective leadership. The study will contribute to discussions on gender, leadership, and media representation, offering a nuanced view of leadership dynamics in a contemporary business setting.