Areas of Inquiry

My research examines how race, ethnicity, and broader systems of inequality shape experiences within organisations and labour markets. I am particularly interested in how organisational norms, workplace cultures, and institutional practices influence inclusion, belonging, legitimacy, and career outcomes among historically marginalised groups. Through this work, I aim to contribute to more equitable and psychologically healthy workplaces.

I explore how employees navigate identity expression and professionalism within organisational settings, with a particular focus on appearance-based norms, hair bias, and workplace microaggressions. My work investigates how perceptions of professionalism are socially constructed and how these expectations shape authenticity, leadership perceptions, wellbeing, and career progression in the workplace.

Drawing on fieldwork and documentary analysis, I examine how HR policies are adopted, interpreted, and contested within South African municipalities. This work speaks to broader questions about public sector governance, service delivery, and the translation of labour policy into everyday organisational practice.

Drawing on perspectives from Social Psychology, Organizational Behaviour, and Human Resource Management, my research examines how social identities, power dynamics, and interpersonal processes influence behaviour at work. I am interested in topics such as belonging, workplace bias, identity threat, employee wellbeing, and the social dynamics that shape organisational life.

My leadership research focuses on how leadership systems, organisational climates, and perceptions of legitimacy shape employee experiences and organisational outcomes. I am particularly interested in inclusive leadership, leadership emergence, psychological safety, and the ways leaders influence identity expression, employee voice, and workplace belonging across diverse organisational contexts.

My work also investigates inequalities within labour markets and career systems, with a focus on how social hierarchies and organisational structures shape access to opportunities, recognition, and advancement. I am interested in understanding how factors such as identity, bias, and institutional norms influence career trajectories, leadership pathways, and experiences of success at work.