What motivated you to pursue an MRes/PhD at Warwick Business School?

Part of me simply wanted to stay a student a little longer. That is the easy answer. The more serious one is that I have always been drawn to questions where the evidence conflicts. What interests me most is not the answer, but the process - how to frame the question, choose the good method, gather convincing evidence, and build a story that actually holds.

During my previous studies in economics and urban governance, I became fascinated by how firms respond when society raises the bar - whether on sustainability, corporate responsibility, or global inequality. At some point I realised I did not just want to discuss these issues in seminars. I wanted to understand and examine them rigorously, with theory, data, and careful causal design, and hopefully contribute something meaningful.

I chose WBS because it takes both theory and methods seriously. It felt like the kind of place where it is normal to debate identification strategies over coffee, but also normal to ask big questions in the same conversation. Also, being fully funded definitely helps. It is easier to think about global responsibility when you are not worrying about rent.

How has the transition into doctoral study been for you?

Challenging, but also freeing. You work harder, yet you have far more ownership of your time and ideas. No one checks whether you have done the reading. You do it because you need it.

The biggest shift for me has been how I think. You go from asking “What is the right answer?” to asking “What is the right question?” I mainly work with quantitative methods, but I have learned a great deal from colleagues who do qualitative research. Coming from an interdisciplinary background, I value those differences. Exposure to different theories, methods, and cultural perspectives does not just broaden your knowledge, it reshapes how you reason.

WBS is intellectually diverse, and there are many research topics here. That diversity constantly challenges your assumptions. I have learned that doctoral study is not about knowing more. It is about thinking more clearly and being comfortable with not knowing yet.

How would you describe the academic support and supervision you’ve received so far?

Very engaged and genuinely invested. Module leaders across different subject groups do not just teach us, they bring in their own experiences. They share real reviewer comments (sometimes the brutal ones), talk us through R&R (Repeatability and Reproducibility) journeys, and explain how papers actually make it into top journals. Hearing about the setbacks as well as the successes makes the academic path feel much more human and much more achievable.

Within the Strategy and International Business (SIB) group, the weekly Discovery Seminar has been especially valuable. It exposes us to research at different stages from different unis and gives us the opportunity to present our own work-in-progress. It is really helpful.

Working with my supervisor, Professor Irina Surdu-Nardella, has been very encouraging. She creates space for me to explore my own ideas while guiding me toward greater clarity and originality. Her encouragement has often come in the form of thoughtful questions - inviting me to think about what would make the project truly unique, or how I might construct and code data that captures the consequences I care about. There is a strong sense that she is invested in helping me build something that is genuinely my own. You feel supported, trusted, and quietly championed.

What does the cohort experience add to your journey?

A huge amount, both academically and personally. Our cohort is very diverse, with people from different countries, disciplines, and research traditions. And that, of course, leads to some very interesting discussions, sometimes about our research, sometimes about our cultures, and sometimes just about life.

We also spend time together outside the classroom. It is quite common for us to have a drink after class, plan a small social event, or even celebrate a special occasion together. For instance, we had a Secret Santa exchange at Christmas, where we ended up talking about the year and the hopes we have for the future.

Academically, we have also developed an informal seminar for ourselves within the cohort. We share work-in-progress, and it is a very supportive environment. Everyone provides thoughtful suggestions from their own perspectives and experiences. It has been incredibly useful.

Just as importantly, there is a real sense of care within the group. Whether it is a birthday, a stressful deadline, or a tough week, people look out for each other. Over time, the people in your cohort become not just colleagues but friends. That sense of shared journey makes the PhD experience much warmer and less lonely.

How have you grown - academically or personally - since starting the programme?

Academically, I have become better at thinking through problems more clearly and with greater patience. Research is not a linear process, and being comfortable with uncertainty has been a significant part of the journey. I have also become more confident in developing my own ideas and defending them.

Personally, I have come to realise that the doctoral process is not actually about knowing more, it is about thinking more carefully, and being comfortable with not knowing.