The study examined the attitudes of subordinates in public and private universities toward the managerial roles of women leaders. A descriptive survey research design was adopted to collect data from teaching and non-teaching staff in Southwest Nigerian universities. The total population comprised 43,946 subordinate staff, with 21,171 from public universities and 22,775 from private universities. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, six public and six private universities were selected. From each university, 10 departments were randomly chosen. The final sample size, determined using Taro Yamane’s formula, consisted of 2,640 participants (1,680 teaching and 960 non-teaching staff). Two instruments were developed for data collection: the Managerial Roles and Subordinates’ Work Attitude Questionnaire (MRSWAQ) and the Women Leaders Managerial Roles and Subordinates Work Attitude Interview (WLMRSWAI). The MRSWAQ, the primary instrument, contained 36 items divided into seven sections covering demographic data and various aspects of managerial roles and work attitudes. A modified 2-point Likert scale ("Agree" and "Disagree") was used. Descriptive statistics, such as frequency counts and percentages, were employed for data analysis, while hypotheses were tested using the t-test at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that subordinates in private universities exhibited better work attitudes than those in public universities. This disparity was attributed to differences in job security, administrative structures, and institutional policies. The study recommended that public universities adopt accountability and leadership policies similar to private institutions, using staff training and stricter enforcement measures to improve subordinates’ attitudes toward female leaders.