Authentic Leadership

This workshop focuses on effective leadership in academic research projects, with particular attention to the experiences and challenges of women in academia. Key topics include clarifying one's role as a female academic leader and addressing challenges arising from leadership responsibilities, academic dependencies, and power dynamics in research environments. Participants will explore strategies for identifying and addressing subtle forms of power imbalance and gender bias that can lead to situations in which women leaders experience their expertise, decisions, or authority being questioned or taken less seriously than those of male colleagues. They will reflect on their growing independence as researchers and strengthen their professional positioning within academia. Particular attention is given to the topic of “Leading as a Woman”, taking into account cultural factors as well as participants' own experiences. The workshop provides a supportive environment for developing an authentic leadership identity, understanding and exercising power responsibly, and leading with integrity in academic organizations.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
• establish effective team routines and facilitate productive meetings, including retrospectives;
• organize and coordinate project-related tasks efficiently;
• delegate responsibilities appropriately and support team members in taking ownership of their work;
• communicate effectively with team members in both routine and challenging situations; and
• conduct employee conversations confidently, including feedback discussions, performance reviews, annual appraisals, and goal-setting meetings.

Trainer: Prof. Dr. Katja Biermann-Ruben
• Supervisor and Coach (DGSv certified)
• Experienced in leadership, research, and teaching, as well as in counseling individuals, groups, and teams in the professional fields of health and education
• Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology at the Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf

Language: English
Max. number of participants: 20