This qualitative study examines the previous leadership experiences and professional training that helped prepare women faculty to become engineering department chairs. Colleges of engineering and institutions of higher education must better understand the professional development experiences of women who are department chairs to identify how to prepare, attract, and retain women in this leadership position. The findings show opportunities that contributed to participant's professional training and readiness to take on leadership roles within academia which included prior leadership opportunities, professional training opportunities, and examples of creating their own opportunities.