Academics who aspire to become academic leaders experience a number of changes as they move into administration. New academic leaders find themselves immersed in a transition that demands personal development and creates new learning settings. The purpose of this study is to examine initial challenges experienced by women academic leaders in the first years of their appointment. A qualitative research design was used in conducting this study, and female leaders' voices are heard throughout the piece. 24 women leaders working at universities from two countries constituted the study group. 12 participants from Istanbul, Turkey and 12 participants from Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. constituted the voices of women leaders in the study. Being an academic leader may bring many challenges and the leader faces the greatest extent during the transition stage. This study specifically focuses on women academic leaders and aims to see how women academic leaders can overcome the constraints encountered at the transition stage. The study reveals that initial challenges felt and experienced during the transition stage are similar in two countries. The theme of "transition to academic leadership" involved the following subthemes: "Entry to the academic leadership and adjustment, fit with the institution and maintaining balance, overcoming resistance and interpersonal relations." The theme of overcoming initial challenges is composed of the following sub themes: "communities of practice, mentor and role models and leadership training." (Contains 1 table.)