The purpose of this thesis was to examine factors contributing to women's under representation at Addis Ababa University leadership positions.This thesis is based on the fact that there are less female leaders than male leaders, in Addis Ababa University. The thesis aims to find out the influential factors behind women's career and ways to increase the number of women in leadership positions. The theoretical part of the study consists of the following topics: female leadership in a global context and in Ethiopia, why it is important to promote female leadership and what are the underlying influential factors in women's careers. To conduct this study, descriptive design method was employed. The participants of this study were 120 academics selected by using simple random sampling techniques from Addis Ababa University. Three AAU senior staffs selected based on purposive sampling have also participated in the study as interviewees. The information was gathered through questionnaires, interviews and document review.The results of the study show that there are many direct and underlying factors regarding women's underrepresentation in managerial positions. Three levels of influential factors were defined as societal, organizational and individual factors. By studying these levels, it was found that traditional gender roles, organizational culture and women's perceptions and competences all have a role in women's managerial career development. On the basis of the findings of this study, the researcher recommended possible solutions that alleviate these problems and encourage women to exercise leadership. Accordingly, the researcher recommended women to realize their innate ability and skill, a quota system to embrace women in leadership, women on a position to encourage others to compete for leadership positions and mentorship among others as possible solutions.