Participants 2025

Meet our amazing participants (sorted alphabetically by first name)

head shot of Adiilah Boodhoo who has short dark hair. She wars glasses a shirt and dark jacket
Adiilah Boodhoo

Associate Professor in Management Studies, University of Cape Town (South Africa)

Adiilah Boodhoo is Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and an evaluation specialist. She leads the Programming and Evaluation for Sustainable Livelihoods research stream under the NRF SARChI Chair in Creation of Decent Work and Sustainability at UCT. Her work focuses on disability inclusion. 

photo of Akshata who is an Indian woman with long dark hair. She wears a light blue traditional Indian attire
Akshata Agarwal

PhD student, Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow (India)

I am a Doctoral Candidate at the Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow. I also have been associated with Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad as an Academic Associate. I intend to conduct impactful research on the inclusion of specially abled people in organizations. 

headshot of Andrew who has short dark hair and a beard. He wears a grey patterned shirt and a black jacket with a hancachief
Andrew Karesa

PhD student, University of Calgary & President & CEO @ blueBell Village (Canada)

Andrew Karesa, is a proud member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, bridging the worlds of industry and academia. He is an Adjunct Professor of Indigenous Business at The King’s University and a doctoral student at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary. His research explores Indigenous entrepreneurship in the health sector, with a particular focus on the role of data in new venture creation. In addition to his academic roles, Andrew is the CEO of blueBell Village, an organization dedicated to Restoring the Personhood and Independence of those living with dementia™. Before transitioning to academia, Andrew spent over a decade in the engineering industry, specializing in oil and gas. His multidisciplinary expertise informs his innovative approach to both research and practice.

Photo of Babeecha who has shoulder length brown hair. she wears a white blouse with a black jacket over it. She stands in front of blurred greenery
Babeecha Devi Keisham

PhD student, Indian Institute of Management, Bodh Gaya (India)

Babeecha Devi Keisham is a research scholar in OBHRM area at IIM Bodh Gaya. She holds an MBA from Visvesvaraya Technological University in HRM. Her research interests are workplace dynamics, resilience, leadership and female workplace diversity and inclusion.

Headshot of Daniela Bozani ey who has medium-length dark hair. She wars a colourful top and is in front of a grey background
Daniela Bolzani

University of Bologna (italy)

Daniela Bolzani obtained a Ph.D. in Business Management after 5 years of work in the domain of financial audit and of development cooperation in Europe and Africa. She is currently an Associate Professor in Management at the University of Bologna, and serves as Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the Bologna Business School. She was a visiting scholar at the University of Colorado (2013) and HEC Paris (2016); and visiting professor at JUNIA-ISA (2022 and 2023) and IAELyon (2025). Her research lies at the intersection of entrepreneurship, diversity (e.g., migration, gender) and social inclusion, with works published in international journals like, among the others, Organization Studies, Journal of Business Venturing, Academy of Management Discoveries. She coordinates and is a member of national and international projects and has been a consultant for the OECD and UN-IOM.

headshot of Dusya who is a woman of South American heritage. she wears glasses and smiles broadly. She wears a blue top and has long dark hair
Dusya Vera

Professor, General Management & Strategyly), Ivey Business School (Canada)

Dusya Vera is a Professor of Strategy and the Executive Director of the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership. She obtained her doctoral degree at Ivey in 2002. Dusya’s expertise is in the areas of strategic leadership, leader character, improvisation, and organizational learning. She has published in top academic publications such as the Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Annals, Organization Science, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, The Leadership Quarterly, Organization Studies, Journal of Organizational Behavior, and Management Learning, among others. She also enjoys writing practitioner-oriented articles, which have been published in journals such as Organizational Dynamics and Business Horizons. She is currently an Associate Editor of Academy of Management Discoveries, and an editorial board member of the Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, Journal of Business Research, and Management Learning. She is a member of the Academy of Management and the Strategic Management Society.She is currently co-leading a Special Research Spotlight on “Neurodiversity in Organizations and Management” at the Academy of Management Discoveries. See Call for Papers here:Throughout her career, Dusya is an award-winning teacher, teaching courses at the undergraduate, masters, doctoral, and executive level in the areas of strategic management, strategic leadership, leader character, and ethical leadership, among others. She has extensive experience in Executive Development. She has also received multiple awards in the areas of research and service. Prior to returning to the Ivey Business School in 2022, she was on the faculty of the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston in the Department of Management & Leadership for 20 years. On a personal level, Dusya and her husband are the proud parents of neurodivergent triplets and are active members of the neurodiversity community in London, ON, Canada

head shot of Elena who is light skinned and has light blonde hair and wears glasses.
Elena Elkanova

Phd Student, Bentley University (USA)

Elena Elkanova is a Ph.D. student in marketing at Bentley University, USA. She studies consumer exclusion and marketplace accessibility. One of her projects is dedicated to consumer empowerment of people with visual impairments.

headshot of Felix Arndt a light skin man with short dark hair. He wars a suit and tie and smiles at the camera. The background is blurred.
Felix Arndt

Professor and John F. Wood Chair in Entrepreneurship, University of Guelph (Canada)

Felix Arndt is a dynamic author exploring sources and triggers of change (on the societal, organisational, and individual level). Felix’s work blends historical, contemporary, and marginalized insights. Felix promotes inclusive dialogue, interdisciplinary thinking, and imaginative storytelling to spark deeper curiosity, inspire empathy, and ultimately shape more cohesive communities.

Headshot of Holly. she is a black woman with shoulder length hair that is parted slighted on her left side. She smiles broadly and warmly.
Holly Haynes

Executive Director, Research Institute, The Jacob’s Ladder Group (USA)

Dr. Holly A. Haynes is a Harvard-educated psychologist and researcher specializing in neurodiversity and disability inclusion. As Executive Director of the Pillar Research Institute, she studies how relationship-centered approaches create beloved communities that honor neurodivergent experiences. Her mixed-methods research focuses on creating strength-based frameworks that support neurodivergent individuals during key life transitions.

Headshot of Joanna Vogeley who has long dark hair wars a grey jacket and is in front of a blurred greenery backdrop
Joanna Vogeley

Australian Catholic University (Australia)

Dr. Joanna Vogeley has international experience across Australia, Germany, Singapore, and Indonesia. She founded a community-driven initiative in Indonesia, empowering unemployed youth through innovative social ventures. With two PhDs (2021, 2025), her interdisciplinary research explores social entrepreneurship and impact investing, contributing to top academic journals.

headshot of Julian. He smiles very broadly and wears a dress shirt with a black jacket over it. He has a short beard and moustache and short ark hair.
Julian Gonzalez

Early Career Researcher, Jacob’s Ladder School & Therapy Center (USA)

I am an early career qualitative researcher with academic background in psychology and philosophy. My work is currently focused on addressing critical themes in neurodivergence, mental health, and human development. 

head shot of Kirsten, a light skinned woman with long dark blonde, brown wavy hair. she wears a dark jumper with a white shirt underneath
Kirsten Shelly Lynn Swatuk

Currently Operations Associate for Leadership Certificate and aspiring PhD candidate , Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership (Canda)

Kirsten Swatuk is a recent graduate of Ivey Business School’s HBA program. Her main focus on research thus far has been on purpose-driven leadership and how university students might begin to explore purpose through the lens of impact. Kirsten currently works at the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership, leading the launch and administration of the new Western Leadership Certificate.

close up head shot of Melea who has light skin. Her face is partly covered by a grey hat.
Melea Press

Associate Professor, University of Glasgow & Co-Founder Undaunted (UK)

I am a Double Activist: (1) Trying to improve lives for neurodiverse families, and all families that don’t fit in the box, and (2) Trying to increase impact from academic research. I use my privilege to bring Unheard Voices into the light.

upper body photo of Manjiri who is an Indian women with medium length dark hair. she stands near a window
Manjiri Gokhale Joshi

Founder of CARe & PhD student (UK)

A former CEO, HR Head and former Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at Said Business School, University of Oxford. She is the co-founder of two charities – Maya CARE Foundation managed by a team of leaders on wheelchairs and visual impairment and Vi Foundation.

full body photo of Nikita who is a light skinned Indian woman with dark long hair who wears a light coloured long sleeve top with black trousers and stands in front of a big tree
Nitika Arora

Phd Student, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (India)

Ms Nitika is a doctoral candidate in Organizational Behaviour at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. Building upon a strong foundation in psychology with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, her research falls within the domain of Positive Organizational Scholarship. Her research explores the intricate dynamics of workplace relationships, with particular emphasis on how organizations can foster environments where employees flourish and thrive. Currently, she is investigating the role of compassion in addressing workplace suffering.

headshot of Oguzhan Okumus who has short dark hair, a moustache and a light beard wearing a white shirt and is in front of a white backdrop
Oguzhan Okumus

PhD student, Schoo of Management, University of St. Gallen (Switzerland)

Oguzhan Okumus is a PhD student at the University of St. Gallen. With a background in Psychology and Economics from Bogazici University, Istanbul, and an MSc in Economics from LMU Munich, he now uses neuroimaging methods to study how investors make funding decisions for entrepreneurs with disabilities.

headshot of Rachel Le memos a slight skin woman with dark hair waring a black top.
Rachel Le Marois

PhD student, OCE emlyon & CRIS Sciences Po research centers (France)

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Management at emlyon Business School and in Sociology at Sciences Po Paris, with a focus on invisible disabilities in the workplace. My research lies at the intersection of human resources, disability studies, and the critical sociology of inequality at work. Using qualitative methods, I am conducting research that explores governmental and organizational policies, organizational factors, and the behaviors of disability managers to understand their impact on the disclosure of disabilities at work.

upper body shot of Rachel Pizzonia who has very long brown hair , wears a white shirt and stands in front of a yellow brick wall
Rachel Pizzonia

Student, Ivey Business School (canada)

My name is Rachel Pizzonia, and I am a graduating Health Sciences and Ivey Business Dual Degree student at Western University. I am very passionate about promoting health and wellness to help ensure the well-being of others and the planet. I have completed the Ivey Sustainability Certificate, which empowers Ivey HBA students to lead more sustainable organizations. I am also actively involved in student government, having served as the VP of Student Affairs on the Faculty of Health Sciences Students’ Council, the Ivey Connects Director for the Ivey HBA Association, and the Wellness Equity Coordinator on the Western University Student Council. Through these experiences, I hope to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

headshot of Tech who has shoulder long dark hair. She wears a grey patterned jacket and a black top underneath
Rekha Gadhia

Phd Student, University of Calgary (Canada)

Rekha Gadhia is a Doctoral Candidate in Business Administration at the University of Calgary, with her research focusing on Human vs. AI: A Comparative Analysis of Educational Assessments in Intimate Partner Violence Training Simulations. With over 15 years of experience in the Calgary non-profit sector, she passionately focuses on addressing gender-based violence and empowering immigrant women and their families. She is the Board Chair of Girls Action Foundation, and a member of the Alberta Premier’s Council on Multiculturalism.

upper body shot of Riyas a brown Indian man with short hair and a beard. he wears a blue suit, white shirt and a red tie.
Riyas Kolopram Kandy

Phd Student, Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (India)

I am a doctoral student at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK) in the area of Humanities & Liberal Arts in Management. I hold a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Governance from TISS. 

upper body shot of Stephanie Raible who has shoulder length dark blonde hair, wars a navy blue jacket and a white top with a long neckless. She stands in front of large trees and bushes
Stephanie Raible

Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship, University of Delaware (USA))

Dr. Stephanie Raible is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware and a Visiting Fulbright Scholar at the Management Center Innsbruck. Her research interests center on entrepreneurial identity, women’s entrepreneurship, and social entrepreneurship. She holds several awards for her work as an educator, most recently being recognized as one of the top 50 Undergraduate Business Professors by Poets & Quants.

headshot of Walker Ray Dornisch, a light skin person with long dark hair tied back in a pony tail. Walker wears glasses
Walker Ray Dornisch

Phd Student, Royal Holloway University of London (UK)

Walker Ray Dornisch is a Ph.D. Student in Business and Management at Royal Holloway, University of London with a research focus in neurodiversity at work. He earned his M.S. in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania, B.S. in Applied Psychology from New York University, and Certification of Professional Achievement in Enterprise Risk Management from Columbia University.

upper body shot of Wyatt who has very short dark hair and wears a grey jacket and blue and grey patterned tie.
Wyatt Lee

Phd Student, Harbert School of Business, Auburn University (USA)

Wyatt is a fifth year Ph.D. candidate at Auburn University in the Department of Management and Entrepreneurship. Wyatt’s research centers around persons with disabilities and their pursuits of successful entrepreneurship and business ownership. Broadly, his RQ is “How to PWDs actions, and stakeholder perceptions, impact success?”

headshot of Zafar Khan, an indigenous man from Pakistan with short dark hair. He wears a dark shirt and a poncho over it and is in front f a blue backdrop
Zafar Khan

Faculty Member, Department of Sociology, University of Peshawar (Pakistan)

Dr. Zafar Khan is an indigenous author and faculty member in the Sociology Department at the University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. He was born and raised in the Pashtun tribal society. I recently published a chapter in Rutledge on understanding Indigenous disability. I also published article on decolonizing indigeneious social work for the people with disability
Along with research, I regularly supervise student fieldwork in the disability centres of Pakistan.

photo of Zein Al Maha Oweis wearing glasses and a red jumper. She cuddles her golden retriever guide dog
Zein Al Maha Oweis

PhD Student, University of Glasgow (UK)

Zein Al Maha Oweis (Zee) is a final year PhD researcher in Media and Cultural Policy at the University of Glasgow. Her research focuses on disability representation in Jordanian media. She has prior degrees in Media Communications and Broadcast Journalism. She is visually impaired and a guide dog user. When not working on her PhD research you can find her adventuring around the beautiful highlands of Scotland with her trusty guide dog Mitch.