About
Professor William E. Donald is a Visiting Professor of Sustainable Careers & Inclusive Practice at the University of Southampton Business School, University of Southampton (UK), in an unpaid capacity as a guest of Professor Yehuda Baruch, and an Adjunct Professor at Liverpool Business School, Liverpool John Moores University, in an unpaid capacity as a guest of Professor Tony Wall. He is also the Founder and Director of Donald Research & Consulting (Est. 2022).
Will is neurodivergent (Autistic, ADHD, Dyslexic), disabled, an ambulatory wheelchair user, and housebound due to various health conditions. He brings such experiences to research leadership across academia, policy, and professional practice. Will completed his BSc, MSc, and PhD at the University of Southampton.
Will is the Co-Editor-in-Chief of Career Development International and sits on the Editorial Boards of Disability & Society, Journal of Work-Applied Management, and Personnel Review. He previously sat on the Editorial Boards of Journal of Vocational Behavior and Journal of Management & Organization. He also serves as a proofreader for Career Matters, the quarterly magazine published by the Career Development Institute.
Will has published in academic journals including Academy of Management Learning & Education, Journal of Vocational Behavior, Studies in Higher Education, Career Development International, Personnel Review, and Disability & Society. Will has also published works in The Conversation, Times Higher Education, University World News, Career Matters, and CareerWise.
Will's most noted contributions include the Employability Capital Growth Model, Sustainable Career Ecosystem Theory, and Weather as a Career Metaphor. He has also published one handbook of research (IGI Global, 2023), two monographs (IGI Global, 2024; Routledge, 2025), and one edited collection (Edward Elgar, 2026), with a further monograph (Trotman, 2026) and handbook of research (Edward Elgar, 2027) in production.
In 2024, he was featured in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 of the 100 most influential disabled people in the UK for his contributions to research and advocacy. In 2024 and 2025, he was featured in the Stanford/Elsevier World's Top 2% of Scientists. In 2026, he delivered the opening keynote at the Asia Pacific Career Development Association (APCDA) Conference.
Please visit Will's website for more information or to access the latest version of his Academic CV.