This article draws on post-colonial and feminist theories to interrogate the notion of "leadership" in the academy. Specifically, it examines challenges that women faculty, especially women of colour, immigrant women, and, in particular, Asian and Asian American women, encounter as they balance leadership work with scholarship and teaching. Integrating theory and autobiography, the author situates herself as a post-colonial, feminist academic and a South Asian immigrant in the USA, and reflects on her own leadership experiences. She identifies three central themes--recognizing one's implicatedness, maintaining integrity and developing resilience--and discusses implications for rethinking leadership.