PhD alumna Dr Olga Gianzina-Kassotaki has been awarded a 2018 Emerald/EFMD Outstanding Doctoral Research Award for her doctoral thesis, Ambidexterity and leadership: A multilevel analysis of the aerospace and defence organizations.

Over 270 entries were received for the award scheme, with one winning paper being selected from each of the ten subject areas. Dr Gianzina-Kassotaki was declared the winner for the leadership and organisational development category and received a €1,000 prize.

Ambidexterity and leadership: A multilevel analysis of the aerospace and defence organizations discusses the effective use of innovative ideas and cost efficient actions of leaders in aerospace and defence organisations, and includes interviews with senior executives, middle managers and employees.

Professor Eric Cornuel, EFMD’s President, commented: “Together with Emerald, we are proud to support doctoral graduates in their efforts to make a difference in society and have their contribution to knowledge appreciated by an international audience. Since we launched the awards in 2003, there has been an impressive response to the competition, with the number of submissions reaching nearly 300 in this edition.

EFMD is delighted to see that the relevant and impactful research is being recognised and would like to warmly congratulate all the winners as well as the authors of the highly-commended research papers for their awards.”

The editorial team from the Leadership & Organization Development Journal judged the leadership and organisational development category, looking at the significance and implications for theory and practice, originality and innovation, appropriateness and application of methodology, and the quality of data and research. Upon winning the award, Dr Gianzina-Kassotaki will now be submitting an article to the Leadership & Organization Development Journal.

Our PhD programme provides an environment where research can truly flourish and you can expect to be challenged by new ideas, international perspectives, and practical relevance. To find out more about our PhD programme, please visit the PhD homepage.