The study was aimed at exploring the challenges women leaders facing while assumingrnand performing leadership responsibilities of five governmental organizations in AddisrnAbaba. It also tried to find out the contributing factors for women to hold leadershiprnpositions, women's leadership styles and measures to be taken to enhance women's sharernof leadership. In-depth interview, questionnaire and document analysis were employed asrnthe data collection instruments in the study. Participants of the study were 5 women whornare in leadership positions of each organization and 130 subordinates of threernorganizations. The respondents for the survey were selected using simple randomrnsampling. Purposive sampling technique was used for selecting women who are in seniorrnleadership positions of their respective organizations. The findings of the study revealedrnthat women leaders are facing many challenges in the studied organizations. Sociocultural,rnorganizational and personal challenges for women while assuming andrndischarging their leadership responsibilities. The main contributing factors for womenrnholding leadership positions are personal performance and capability, their educationalrnqualification, current political system and their experience. Finally, the main measure tornbe taken to enhance women's share in leadership positions mainly depends on addressingrngender gaps in the country and raising the level of attention given for gender issues in thernorganizations.