Leadership and Governance

The research of the Leadership and Governance (L&G) platform  takes a multifaceted perspective on discussing societally relevant questions related to the leadership and governance of different types of organizations, including corporate organizations. The L&G platform hosts researchers with a diverse background, including economics, business, management, accounting, finance, sociology and psychology. Our research typically takes a multi-level and comparative perspective, analysing leadership and governance at the individual, group (top management teams and boards), industry and country-level. The aim of the group’s research is to have both academic and societal impact.

Research of the L&G platform contributes to the Development, Security and Justice theme of the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development. In particular, research of the platform can enlarge our understanding of how public and private sector actors, and their interaction with states, international organizations and civil society groups, can contribute to achieving sustainable societies, security and justice.

A substantial part of the research within the platform deals with topics related to sustainable development, security and justice. Some of the topics that have been addressed by members of the L&G group are:

- The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on leadership behaviour

- Stakeholder activism and corporate outcomes

- Board composition, gender balance and justice

- Board environmental expertise and corporate environmental performance

- Role of strategic leaders and their influence on inter- and intra-organizational outcomes

- Corporate challenges of the digital transformation and cyber security

- AI governance and the democratic implications of digital leadership

- The use of CSR criteria in executive compensation contracts

The group is active in organizing events where academics and practitioners from different backgrounds meet to discuss recent developments in leadership and governance. Examples are the conference entitled “Governance and Leadership in the Digital Age” (2024) and the two-day workshop “Strategic Leadership in Navigating Grand Societal Challenges” (2025), organized in cooperation with the European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management (EIASM). The group also regularly invites internationally well-known scholars for short research visits. Examples are the visits of Craig Crossland (Texas Christian University; 2022), Alessandro Zattoni (LUISS University, Rome; 2023), and Corinne Post (Villanova University; 2024). Since 2017, members  of the platform organize a summer school for early academic scholars and practitioners entitled “Corporate Governance and the Effectiveness of Boards”. 

Academic lead

Sarosh Asad (FEB); s.asad rug.nl