Esittely
Grant Researcher
Post Doctoral Researcher
Tutkimuskuvaus
I am a researcher, facilitator, and artist specializing in collaborative leadership development, academic well-being, and transformative learning in higher education. My work bridges theory and practice, focusing on how relational and shared leadership practices enable individuals and collectives to navigate complexity and drive meaningful change.
Addressing a gap in leadership training in higher education, my doctoral research offers innovative insights into how leadership skills can be cultivated both individually and collectively among students. The dissertation demonstrates how higher education students can simultaneously nurture relational and collective leadership abilities while achieving shared learning goals. These findings provide actionable guidance for educational institutions to better prepare emerging leaders to tackle complex challenges and contribute to sustainable and regenerative solutions.
My current postdoctoral research (2026), funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund, investigates community-based resilience among doctoral candidates in Finland. Titled "Beyond Survival: Community-Based Resilience of Doctoral Students in Finland," this study examines resilience as a collective capacity and resource within academic communities, moving beyond individual survival narratives. Using participatory methodologies, the research creates spaces for connection and collaboration across traditional academic boundaries, aiming to inform doctoral program policies and support academic well-being both in Finland and internationally.
Grounded in the capabilities approach, my earlier research examined educational access and well-being among marginalized youth in Tanzania and South Africa. Published in Routledge's Youth, Gender and the Capabilities Approach to Development, this work explores how young people—particularly women—navigate systemic barriers to higher education, reflecting my longstanding commitment to equity and social justice in educational contexts.
Beyond research, I design and facilitate leadership programs using Theory U methodology, creative dialogue tools, and the Flow Game, creating containers for authentic dialogue and collective transformation in educational organizations worldwide.