Who is Who in VHB ProDok
Meet the lecturers of the VHB ProDok programme
Christopher Wickert is Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) and has served as General Editor of the Journal of Management Studies from 2023-2025. He teaches the ProDok course Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability: Societal Trends and Theoretical Developments. His research focuses on corporate sustainability and the relationship between business and society from an organisational theory perspective.
What fascinates you about corporate social responsibility?
CSR requires us to consider the role of companies in addressing the major social challenges of our time. This is exciting for researchers, who can think outside the box. It is also socially relevant because problems such as climate change will not be solved without companies and their interaction with other stakeholders.
What challenges and opportunities do you think early-career researchers face?
The German academic job market is simply difficult. The ProDok programme recognises this, offering young researchers in particular the valuable opportunity to network and exchange ideas with their peers. Although the path into academia can be rocky, I don't know anyone who has regretted it in retrospect — the profession is very fulfilling.
What inspires you?
All kinds of things! Regularly exchanging ideas with other researchers at conferences, workshops and seminars is extremely helpful, but interacting with practitioners and your own students can also inspire you to recognise and step out of your comfort zone.
And what else?
Join us for the next ProDok course Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability in 2027! As well as delving deep into the CSR literature, we will also discuss publication strategies and impactful research. We look forward to seeing you there!
Who is Who - About
VHB ProDok instructors are distinguished by their research excellence, internationally recognised expertise and high level of professional commitment. Many of them have been involved with the ProDok programme for a number of years. In the 'Who is Who' section, they share insights into their personal motivations, experience, and the courses they teach.
This section showcases the exceptional quality of VHB ProDok, highlighting its status as a unique initiative brought together by dedicated scholars who value sound research, methodological rigour, and collegial exchange — all curated by the VHB.