Welcome IMPACT / Issue 12

Welcome to issue 12 of IMPACT magazine, the School's thought leadership publication.

This issue is themed around leadership and the many aspects that comprise the subject area. The School has a number of research centres and hugely talented academic staff that devote their time to researching leadership in business and wider society.

Perhaps it’s appropriate at this point to say how delighted I am to have taken up the position of Executive Dean at Durham University Business School. I'd like to take the opportunity to thank Professor Fernandes for his support in handing over the reins on my arrival and to all the faculty and professional service staff that have made my first ten months a pleasure.

The IMPACT team suggested by way of introduction to myself that they include an interview I recently did for AMBA's Horizons Magazine. You'll find this in the opening section alongside some wonderful articles by Professor Jackie Ford, Professor Julie Hodges, Professor Xinming He and PhD candidate Jeni Smith. Professor Ford outlines an ethical model of relationships and reciprocal leadership in her article ‘The uncomfortable truth of good leadership’. Professor Hodges examines how leaders can best adapt their organisations in an ever-changing climate with ‘The leadership of organisational changes in a post-pandemic world’. Professor He considers the impact familial ties can have on decision making in 'Firms with CEOs under clan culture influence are more likely to be internationally focused'. And small business owner and part-time PhD candidate Jeni Smith shares the five characteristics of a good leader in networking in ‘Network like a leader’.

This issue also covers the wider research output of the School which aims to benefit business and society. Professors Martyna Śliwa and Barbara Bechter in their articles look at two different issues relating to the workplace, equality and wellbeing. Professor Nejat Anbarci touches on how climate change can impact national leadership, while Professors Dimitris Petmezas and Martin Robson look at the economic impacts of terrorism and landslides in their respective pieces. The society section is ended with individual articles from Professors Kevin Dowd and Laurence Ferry considering different issues relating to the importance of governance and audit.

Our research is just one of many ways that the School works with its stakeholders and the engagement section of IMPACT provides some fantastic examples of how we link our students with organisations through projects such as MBA alumnus Ronan Murray’s Strategic Consulting Project, study trips to employers in Athens and Stockholm and undergraduate placement with companies such as Mazars, Morgan Stanley, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oréal, and Samsung. We also look at how we are delivering executive education to Cummins, Hargreaves, LNER, Nissan and Sage Group and consider the difference between PhDs and part-time executive doctorate programmes (DBAs).

We close this issue with a look at the latest news and events since the last publication. This is just a small selection of successes such as the School’s five-year EQUIS reaccreditation and Financial Times MBA rankings, together with high profile conferences and appointments such as the China Economic Associate (Europe/UK) conference hosted by the School and Lucian Hudson’s announcement as our latest Professor in Practice. There are also updates on alumni reunions and events. For more regular updates on the latest news and events I would recommend you bookmark and regularly visit the School website.

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this issue of IMPACT magazine. The support from all of those featured, from staff and students to alumni and business connections, has been exceptional. There are many exciting developments underway at the moment and I look forward to welcoming you to the next issue of IMPACT

Professor Cathy Cassell Executive Dean