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Navigating Crises: Insights From Executive Leaders' Personal Journeys Through The Covid-19 Pandemi

Author : Courtley Pharaoh

Abstract :Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the study is to explore the lived experiences of executive leaders in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic, examining their resilience, adaptability, and crisis management strategies to extract lessons that can inform future leadership practices in times of crisis. Methodology: This exploratory study employs a qualitative research methodology using online face-to-face interviews to gather narratives from executive leaders in higher education about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collected data is analyzed using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to identify patterns, themes, and complexities within the leaders' experiences, focusing on resilience, adaptability, and crisis management strategies. Main Findings: The main findings of the study indicate that executive leaders in higher education relied on resilience, adaptability, and crisis management strategies to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their lived experiences reveal multifaceted leadership qualities, highlighting the importance of decision-making under uncertainty, organizational preparedness, and strategic adaptability. The study also extracts valuable lessons that can inform future leadership practices to enhance institutional resilience in times of crisis. Applications of this Study: The study enhances leadership development, crisis preparedness, and decision-making in higher education by providing actionable insights from executive leaders’ experiences. Its recommendations inform training, policy, and resilience strategies, equipping universities for future crises. Novelty / Originality of this Study: The study's novelty lies in its exploratory qualitative approach, capturing firsthand narratives of higher education leaders during COVID-19 to reveal insights on resilience and crisis management. Unlike studies on institutional responses, it uniquely applies Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to uncover leadership adaptability patterns, offering practical lessons for future crises

Keywords :Executive management, crisis management, decision-making, Covid-19 Pandemic, Higher Education Institutions

Conference Name :International Conference on Business, Economics, Marketing and Management (ICBEMM-25)

Conference Place Hanoi, Vietnam

Conference Date 19th Jun 2025

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