Duquesne University is launching a Women's Executive Leadership Program to help female executives crack the top ranks of corporations and organizations where a dearth of women hold powerful positions.

"There's still a gap in terms of development opportunity," said Angela Arrington, director of Duquesne's Center for Corporate and Executive Education, which developed the program. "Women are populating entry- to midlevel [jobs] but finding it hard to move up and around and achieve levels of success."

The six-month program will combine traditional executive education in skills such as strategic marketing, ethics and creative thinking with executive coaching to help participants develop their own leadership styles, said Ms. Arrington.

The program will target female directors, vice presidents and senior vice presidents who "have lots of potential and room for growth, and want to have an impact," she said.

The inaugural group is expected to have six to 10 women; participants already have signed on from Medrad, Giant Eagle and Equitable Resources. Future classes could have as many as 15 to 20 enrollees.

The program will launch this month with a two-day retreat at luxury resort Nemacolin Woodlands in Fayette County. Subsequent sessions include classroom work, executive forums and assignments designed to boost the participant's profile in her own company or organization.

In addition to receiving executive coaching, participants each will be assigned to an executive steward who works at their organizations. The steward, who can be male or female, "helps navigate the political waters" and helps the participants "network at a higher level" than they would normally, said Ms. Arrington.

The biggest barriers to women moving up within corporations and other organizations, she said, include perceptions that women can't effectively balance a job and a family.

Ms. Arrington, a Tennessee native, worked at Westinghouse Electric Co. for 12 years as a buyer, marketing engineer and planner before becoming an independent consultant and then joining Duquesne University. She has four children ages 9 to 13.

"Do [women] find purpose in work in addition to family? Yes. It's possible for us to do both those things and do them well," she said. "Balance is individual. It has to be about me and my situation, and what works for me and my family. We want to empower women to let them be successful and lead. Not every woman wants to be a CEO, but some of them do."

Cost of the six-month program is $13,500. For registration or more information, call 412-396-5296.