This study examines gender and hierarchies in the TESOL university context in Scotland by giving voice to male and female academics who work in this profession. In addition, it explores the distribution of roles in university TESOL departments as well as any career progression limitations for male and female academics working in this environment. Furthermore, it aims to understand the characteristics of a good department leader and any differences between men and female leadership styles. This study has been undertaken by lengthy and in-depth interviews with four academic participants; two male and two females in order to achieve a gender-balanced view on this topic. The researcher has been listening to their perceptions and reaching to conclusions. The study contributes to a growing discussion of TESOL and gender as it seems essential to analyse the situation in order to make changes in the current university system and accelerate the shift into a more gender-balanced, diverse and inclusive profession which has space for the 'outsiders'.