Lena Knappert is a professor and the head of the Institute for Gender and Diversity in Organizations at WU Vienna. Her research examines inequalities, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace from contextual, critical, cross-actor, and cross-level perspectives. Together with Renate Ortlieb, she offers the ProDok course Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Research.

I am fascinated by how research on gender, diversity and inclusion helps to understand why opportunities are unequally distributed, and how organisations can be made fairer. This field also has the potential to contribute to greater social justice and inclusion, both within and beyond organisations.

Science demands a lot of flexibility and perseverance. High publication pressure and often precarious employment conditions encourage competition. I hope that reforms to the system will gain momentum, enabling young researchers to seize opportunities to shape topics together and contribute to social change.

I am inspired by conversations with colleagues and students, but also by unexpected encounters, books and artworks that open up new perspectives. In particular, social developments and real challenges in organisations give me important ideas for research and teaching.

Yoga and meditation are my constant companions, helping me to relax and stay in touch with myself. Spending time with my children is also very important to me, even if it is usually less quiet but rather full of life.

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