Professional Identity Regulation research at 黑料正能量, funded by a British Academy and Leverhulme Small Research Grant, in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust.

Dr Victoria Opara received funding for the Small Research Grants programme, for her project titled 'Cognitive and Emotional Costs of Identity Regulation Among Ethnically Diverse Early Career Professionals'.

More about the award

The British Academy announced the award of 244 worth over £2.2 million to support primary research in the鈥疭HAPE disciplines.

This round, over 1,200 applications were submitted for assessment, resulting in a success rate of 19 per cent. Worth up to £10,000 over a period of up to two years, the awards will support academics working at universities and research institutions across the UK – as well as independent scholars – by covering the cost of expenses arising from a particular research project.

More about the project

  • Project title: Cognitive and Emotional Costs of Identity Regulation Among Ethnically Diverse Early Career Professionals, Bath Business School, 黑料正能量
  • Value awarded: £9,214.00
  • Funded by: Wellcome

Professions in the UK often promote values like competence, meritocracy, and individual achievement, reflecting white and Western (WEIRD) norms. These norms can marginalise those who do not align, posing challenges for ethnically diverse professionals in negotiating their professional identity.

Research shows that professionals often face cognitive and emotional strain, such as stress and anxiety, when trying to conform to dominant standards; with this being seen most keenly in the early career stages. This project aims to explore differences in reported stress, anxiety, and social dysfunction between: (a) ethnically diverse individuals (Global Majority groups, making up most of the world’s population i.e. Black, Arab, Asian, Indigenous, and others), and (b) white professionals (of European descent, including, and beyond, Anglo, Celtic, and Nordic).

Using 120 survey responses categorised by ethnic identity, the study will assess variations in cognitive and emotional well-being, examining how identity regulation affects early career professionals within UK professions.

Project outputs

  • A new paper co-authored by and published in Strategy & Leadership.

The study found that senior leaders often rely on personal interpretations of DEI rather than a shared, evidence-based understanding. This can create potential "DEI blind spots" that hinder sustainable progress. The authors identify three key ways leaders engage with DEI: through their beliefs and values, the actions they take, and the important issues they may unintentionally overlook.

  • Event, FUTURE
    Dr Victoria Opara, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour, Bath Business School, 黑料正能量

Women in Leadership: Barriers, Enablers and Well-being Outcomes

Why do women remain underrepresented in leadership, despite decades of progress? Across business, politics, education, healthcare and many other sectors, women continue to be less likely than men to reach the most senior leadership roles.

While more women are entering leadership than ever before, the path to the top is often shaped by unequal opportunities, hidden obstacles and persistent stereotypes. This exhibition explores the experiences of women leaders through Victoria's latest research, revealing the visible and invisible barriers that influence career progression.

Full programme available: