This research study investigates the discrepancies between male and female leadership in Ukraine's public sector, focusing on the challenges that female leaders face in digital transformation. The Critical Incident Technique is used to analyse the experiences of ten senior female professionals working in the Ministry of Digital Transformation through semi-structured interviews. The study's key findings highlight a range of challenges that female leaders face, such as societal, organisational, interpersonal, and individual. This study fills a critical gap in the literature regarding women in leadership within the public sector, particularly in the digital transformation sphere. It contributes valuable insights to the broader discussion on gender diversity in Ukraine's public sector leadership.