When former United States secretary of state Madeleine Albright said, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other,” that quip captured a widespread expectation that women who reach the top should pull others up behind them. Yet it’s not uncommon for junior female employees to encounter women in senior roles who seem distant, unsupportive, or even actively competitive.

This phenomenon is commonly referred to as Queen Bee Syndrome (QBS). Although the term is controversial, the underlying behavior is well-documented and has real consequences for the women affected, as well as their organizations and broader gender diversity efforts. The more useful question isn’t whether QBS exists, but why it occurs and what leaders and organizations can do about it.

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