The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to gain insight into how women leaders of higher education describe their beliefs about how they thrive in leadership roles. This dissertation contributes to the literature on women leaders in higher education settings. The population of this study consisted of 10 female leaders of a small Catholic university in the southwestern United States. Transformational leadership theory was the theoretical framework of the study because women are predisposed to assuming transformational leadership styles. This study included data collected during semistructured one-on-one and focus-group interviews. The coding process revealed seven themes: mentoring, support networks, relationship-building, confidence, women leaders, leadership opportunities, and institutional mission. Two subthemes emerged under mentoring: serving others and formal mentoring. Two subthemes emerged under women leaders: self-care workplace policies and family-friendly workplace policies. The findings of this study are of particular value to established and aspiring women leaders of higher education institutions and higher education administrators, especially those in human resources departments. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]