Purpose: This study analyzed three years of data from the Collegiate Leadership Competition to investigate potential differences in longitudinal leader self-efficacy growth between students who identify as men and those who identify as women. Design/methodology/approach: Survey design. Findings: Results indicate that women participants enter their competition experience at higher levels of leader self-efficacy than men and that both groups were able to sustain moderate levels of growth measured several months after the end of the competition. Originality/value: The gap between men and women in their leader self-efficacy did not change over the several months of measurement. Implications for leadership educators are discussed.