Based on self-efficacy theory, we hypothesize that managers with high leadership confidence are motivated to attain executive positions and exhibit proactive career behaviors. We collected data from 223 full-time managers in Japanese listed companies through time-lagged surveys. Our findings support that leadership confidence positively relates to motivation for advancement and proactive career behaviors. Gender moderates these relationships, with women facing more challenges than men. Additionally, foreign ownership mitigates the negative impact of gender on motivation to advance. These results highlight the importance of foreign ownership on fostering female managers’ motivation to advance to a higher position.
