Leonora Amponsah-Asante is an emerging interdisciplinary scholar, educator, and qualitative researcher whose academic work sits at the intersection of Human Resource Management (HRM) and Organisational Behaviour (OB), enriched by earlier professional experience in project management support, construction economics, and digital business environments. She is nearing completion of her PhD in Business Studies and Management at the University of Southampton, where she uses advanced qualitative methodologies—particularly the Critical Incident Technique (CIT)—to investigate how leaders navigate ethically challenging, emotionally complex, and high-stakes organisational contexts. Her doctoral research contributes new insights into ethical leadership, sensemaking, and employee experiences, offering theoretical and practical implications for contemporary organisations.
The last-born of four children, Leonora’s educational journey reflects determination, academic excellence, and a commitment to lifelong learning. She began her early education at Prince of Peace Kindergarten, proceeded to Goshen International School in Tema, and later completed her basic education at Madina Demonstration School. She attended Ofori Panin Senior High School in Kukurantumi, earning the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in General Arts, where she developed strong analytical, communicative, and sociocultural foundations that continue to shape her scholarly identity.
Leonora holds a BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying and Construction Economics, during which she also served as a Teaching and Research Assistant, supporting coursework delivery, academic tutoring, and research activities. Following her undergraduate studies, she built a strong professional footprint in Ghana’s built environment sector, practising as a Quantity Surveyor on several high-profile construction projects. These roles equipped her with expertise in procurement, contracting, stakeholder engagement, risk control, cost optimisation, and project coordination—skills that now inform her interdisciplinary academic contributions.
She advanced her academic training with a Master’s degree in Project Management, deepening her expertise in project strategy, digital management tools, organisational leadership, and complex decision-making. After completing her master's degree, Leonora worked as a Peer Advisor at the University of Southampton, where she supported postgraduate students with academic development, research skills, and wellbeing guidance. Following this, she progressed into an Assistant Project Manager role, gaining additional hands-on experience in project delivery, reporting, cross-functional collaboration, and the integration of business and technical processes. She is currently undertaking an apprenticeship with Kier Group, expanding her understanding of UK construction practice, digital infrastructure, organisational innovation, and corporate governance.
Despite her interdisciplinary background, Leonora’s academic trajectory has evolved into a refined specialism in Human Resource Management and Organisational Behaviour. Her work bridges leadership, employee wellbeing, ethics, organisational sensemaking, and qualitative inquiry. She is increasingly recognised for her expertise in qualitative research design, thematic and narrative analysis, interview techniques, and interpretive methodologies, and she is adept at analysing sensitive organisational topics requiring trust, emotional intelligence, and ethical responsibility.
At Southampton Business School, Leonora has contributed to multiple undergraduate and postgraduate modules, including Digital Technologies in Business (MANG1050W1) and Managing Digital Design and Web Development (MANG6531), where she marked coursework and examinations and provided constructive developmental feedback. She has also led seminars for Management Principles (MANG1047) and Introduction to Management (MANG1019), facilitating active learning, student engagement, and group discussions in classes of 30–45 students. Additionally, she tutors students in qualitative data analysis, guiding them through coding, thematic structuring, interpretation, and methodological rigour.
Leonora is also an Ethics Reviewer for the University of Southampton, a position she has held for three years. This role has equipped her with deep knowledge of ethical standards, governance procedures, risk mitigation, and the protection of vulnerable participants—expertise that aligns strongly with her research on sensitive organisational experiences and leadership behaviours.
Her growing research profile includes peer-reviewed publications, manuscripts under review, and ongoing developmental papers arising from her doctoral studies. She has presented her work at internationally recognised conferences, including the Academy of Management (AOM), and contributes to the Work Futures Research Centre (WFRC), where she supports grant development, interdisciplinary collaborations, and research on organisational futures, leadership ethics, and workplace wellbeing.
Leonora’s scholarly interests include ethical leadership, HRM and OB, organisational identity, employee experience, qualitative methodology, leadership behaviour, evidence-informed practice, and project-based organising. Her interdisciplinary background enables her to merge theoretical insight with real-world practice, making her teaching, research, and professional engagement deeply impactful. She remains committed to fostering inclusive learning environments, conducting rigorous research, and contributing meaningfully to both academic communities and professional practice.
