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The study aims to explore the career experiences of Malay Muslim women (MMW) managers in Malaysia. By applying an intersectionality lens to the role congruity theory of prejudice, we seek to uncover how the interaction of multiple identities influences the career experiences of MMW.

In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 MMW in managerial positions probing their career experiences and progress.

Our findings demonstrate how role incongruities are experienced from multiple intersecting identities, namely ethnicity (Malay), religion (Muslim), gender (woman) and work (manager), which results in unique experiences of prejudice. Most importantly, analysis of the interview transcripts revealed that MMW experience prejudice differently in Malay majority (in-group) and non-Malay majority (out-group) work contexts. Thus, our findings are presented based on these two work contexts. In sum, these findings shed light on the prevailing career blocks of women in management in a developing context.

Our work has theoretical and practical implications for scholars and practitioners on diversity management in understanding the myriads of challenges women experience in their careers. The paper provides a complex account of how intersecting identities, workplace contexts and macro contexts significantly contribute to a unique experience of prejudice hindering women’s progress.

Our findings evidence the value of intersectionality and contextual considerations when understanding the nature of role incongruities and prejudice as a socially constructed process. We also illustrate the value of considering workplace contexts to provide a more fine-grained understanding of Muslim women’s career experiences.

This study aims to contribute to subjective career success (SCS) literature using sequential mediation modeling to interrogate the inter-relationships between dimensions of SCS, including interpersonal success, financial success, job success and hierarchical success. In doing so, the research provides a nuanced understanding of career behavior among young adults using the perspective of a non-western developing context.

The study is operationalized using 342 survey questionnaires from Malaysian young working adults (18-34 years). Partial least square structural equation modeling is used as the main analytic tool.

The results of the study revealed that dimensions of SCS were related in a sequential mediating manner. Specifically, an individual’s interpersonal success is the foundation for one to accomplish job tasks (job success), which then leads to increased prospects for promotion (hierarchical success) and subsequently financial success.

These findings highlight the importance of interpersonal success as a foundation of career success and provide evidence for the study recommendation to support young working adults in building interpersonal relationships, which will help realize other forms of career success. However, the establishment of a sequential mediation pathway suggests that developing relationships alone are not sufficient. Study roles and tasks must also be designed to align with individuals’ personal goals for advancement and success.

The research contributes to knowledge on understanding career behavior specifically relating to the dynamics and complexities of SCS. The study sheds light on the potential limitation of operationalizing SCS as a multi-dimensional aggregate construct and provides empirical support for the proposed sequential mediation model of SCS.