Outlook

Thoughts on my worldview and academic philosophy

Image credit: Romain Vignes

Bridging academia and practice

My work is guided by the idea that the future of academia and industry lies in meaningful collaboration among people, technology and innovation. I am a hybrid academic-practitioner, working at the interfaces and moving ideas from scholarship to tangible application and bringing lessons, curiosity and inspiration from industry back into academic inquiry. This feedback loop exchange ensures my work remains both rigorous and relevant, and it shapes how I approach teaching, leadership and research. This is not only about responding to contemporary challenges but also about anticipating future scenarios: how digital transformation, project leadership and innovation will shape the way we work, learn and innovate.

Human-centred technology for social good

My career has been shaped by the belief that technology is ultimately about people, about how we design it, adopt it and use it to create positive change. My research explores the intersection of digital transformation, organisational change and project leadership, always with a human-centric perspective. Many of my projects emerge from direct collaboration with industry, ensuring that my research questions and the answers I find, contribute to social good.

Collaborative leadership

Leadership is something you do with people, not at people. My research on leading psychologically safe digitally-enabled project teams mirrors my own leadership approach: building trust, encouraging sharing and openness and enabling teams to innovate with confidence. I am energised when my leadership practices and research interests reinforce one another, as insights from research shape how I lead, and my leadership experiences inform the questions I pursue.

Diversity & Inclusion

Working on projects across Europe and the Middle East, early in my career outside academia, taught me the power of diversity. Groups of people with diverse backgrounds and ideas are ideal for collaborating and finding innovation solutions to grand challenges of our times. As a female and an expat, I aim to create environments in collaborative research projects, inductive teaching pedagogies and industry co-creation workshops where every voice can be heard and valued. Inclusion is not only a value but a driver of better decisions and outcomes. Inclusion is not a “nice-to-have” but instead a precondition for excellence.

Mentoring & Developing people

I am grateful to all formal and informal mentors I have come across in my life and career. Mentorship is one of the most rewarding parts of my work and there is space for everyone to do more of. As a Greek idiom says: “do good and throw it to the sea", I support my students, PhDs, alumni, early-career colleagues and industry connections, without expecting anything in return. This is especially needed in our current fast-pacied world as I discovered through my recent research on nurturing data-savvy talent that explores how organisations not only attract and develop but also retain the next generation of talent. I apply these insights in my mentoring relationships that are tailored, sustained and growth-focused. It is important that all of us create a place and professional environment to feel happy and thrive, as work is such a big part of our lives.

Industry engagement

Outside academia, I consciously pursue initiatives for ongoing knowledge exchange and bringing together academia, industry and policy to co-create digital solutions through global social enterprises. The self-reinforcing cycles of academic and industry activities are my continuous source of inspiration. By co-founding Digital Outlook, a boutique consultancy, I lead executive education programmes and advisory projects for global firms, translating my research insights into actionable strategies for digital change and leadership. These activities ensure my scholarship addresses pressing real-world challenges while keeping my teaching grounded in lived experience.

Authenticity & Integrity

Authenticity and integrity are central to me. My Greek heritage offers a guiding principle: “Reach what you cannot” (by Nikos Kazantzakis). For me, it is a call to push beyond perceived limits and keep progressing and learning while staying true to my values. Ultimately, I want to lead with empathy, connect people and work towards meaningful, lasting impact.

Thank you for taking the time to read. I look forward to connecting. Wishing you all the best.