Assoc Prof Dr. Qi Song | Motivation and Employee Engagement | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc Prof Dr. Qi Song | Motivation and Employee Engagement | Best Researcher Award

Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China

Author Profile

Orcid 

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

From the outset of her academic journey, Dr. Qi Song demonstrated a strong commitment to scholarly excellence and a deep interest in organizational behavior and human resource management. She completed both her doctoral and postgraduate studies at the prestigious School of Business Administration, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics in China, an institution known for nurturing intellectual rigor and innovative thought in management sciences. Her formative academic years were marked by rigorous training in empirical research methods and leadership theory, which laid the foundation for her career as a scholar.

Her doctoral studies offered her the opportunity to explore critical organizational dynamics and develop a strong understanding of the interplay between trust, creativity, and employee behavior—an area that would go on to define much of her research trajectory. Through this early immersion into advanced business administration studies, she acquired a unique combination of theoretical depth and methodological precision, setting her apart as an emerging thought leader in the field.

🧑‍🏫 Professional Endeavors

Dr. Qi Song currently holds the position of Associate Professor in the School of Business Administration at Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, one of China’s most respected institutions in economics and business education. Her role at the university encompasses a rich blend of teaching, mentoring, and leading cutting-edge research projects.

Beyond classroom instruction, Dr. Song has taken on several leadership roles in academic research, most notably as the Principal Investigator for multiple national and institutional research grants. These include one ongoing project under the prestigious National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and three completed projects funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities. Her involvement in additional projects under the Ministry of Education in China and regional science foundations in Sichuan and Fujian provinces showcases her broad impact across institutional and geographic boundaries.

Her teaching philosophy is rooted in evidence-based practice and real-world relevance, often bringing insights from her own research into the classroom to stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students.

🔬 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Qi Song’s research interests are centered around leadership management, human resource management, and employee well-being. Her work has been influential in understanding how trust dynamics within organizations influence creativity and work-family conflict. One of her most widely cited articles, “Energizing, yet tiring: The dual impact of felt trust on employee creativity and work-to-family conflict”, published in the Journal of Business Research, sheds light on the nuanced effects of managerial trust on both professional output and personal balance.

In addition to high-impact research in Journal of Business Research and Human Resource Management, she has published in respected journals such as Tourism Management, Internet Research, and Information & Management. These publications reflect her interdisciplinary grasp of both the psychological and structural aspects of business management.

Her scholarly output includes a notable first-authored case study published in Ivey Publishing, further demonstrating her ability to translate theory into practical, teachable insights.

🏅 Accolades and Recognition

While Dr. Song’s accolades may not always take the form of trophies and medals, her scholarly influence is evident in her Google Scholar profile, which records over 426 citations, an H-index of 5, and an i10-index of 4 as of June 2025. These metrics speak to her growing reputation in international academic circles and her capacity to generate meaningful, lasting impact through her research.

Her doctoral dissertation received distinction, recognized through a 2020 Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Project award, which was part of an education reform initiative at her home institution. This accolade underscores her early excellence and the practical value of her doctoral research.

🌍 Impact and Influence

The influence of Dr. Qi Song’s research extends beyond academia. Her work addresses pressing organizational issues such as employee burnout, organizational trust, and crisis management in service sectors—topics that resonate in today’s rapidly changing business environment. By exploring how human resource practices can foster resilience and innovation, she contributes to broader conversations on corporate sustainability and psychological safety.

Moreover, her research projects under national and provincial foundations indicate a strong connection between academic scholarship and public policy priorities in China. These collaborations help shape the strategic direction of human resource development in both public and private sectors.

🔮 Legacy and Future Contributions

As she continues her academic career, Dr. Qi Song stands at the forefront of next-generation leadership studies in China. Her evolving research agenda includes deeper explorations into the digital transformation of HRM, cross-cultural leadership, and employee adaptability in volatile environments. She is expected to lead further interdisciplinary projects that bridge psychology, technology, and management, amplifying her role as a mentor and thought leader.

Her unwavering dedication to advancing knowledge, supporting young scholars, and contributing to institutional excellence ensures that her legacy will extend well beyond individual publications or grants. As she nurtures the next wave of researchers and continues to publish insightful work, Dr. Song’s influence is poised to grow on a global scale.

📝Notable Publications

Energizing, yet tiring: The dual impact of felt trust on employee creativity and work-to-family conflict

Authors: Qi Song, Yuxuan Guo, Qiqi Ren, Yingwei Ren, Hui Lv, Ruotong Ma, Yujing Gan
Journal: Journal of Business Research
Year: 2025

How does occupational stigma and work dirtiness inhibit hotel front-line employees’ proactive customer service performance and its solutions

Authors: Xingyang Lv, Kexin Zhang, Qi Song, Xiaoxiao Fu, Yue Liu
Journal: Tourism Management
Year: 2024

 When leaders and their employees disagree: Investigating the consequences of differences in cognitions of workplace event criticality

Authors: Qi Song, Li Gong, Man Zhao, Tao Shen, Yang Chen, Jialin Wang
Journal: Journal of Managerial Psychology
Year: 2024

How does Human Resource Management help service organizations to thrive in uncertainties and risks: Postcrisis as a context

Authors: Yang Chen, Rong Fu, Mengying Xie, Fang Lee Cooke, Qi Song
Journal: Human Resource Management
Year: 2024

 Learn from others or put them down? The double-edged effect of upward social comparison in the workplace

Authors: Qi Song, Lu Zhang, Lifang Gao, Bao Cheng, Yang Chen
Journal: Acta Psychologica Sinica
Year: 2023

Mr. Hani Tarabichi | Change Management | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Hani Tarabichi | Change Management | Best Researcher Award

Aalto University, Finland

Author profile

Scopus

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Hani Tarabichi’s academic journey is rooted in a multidisciplinary foundation that has shaped his unique perspective on global development and innovation. He earned his Bachelor of Computer Science from Eastern Michigan University in April 1991, providing him with a solid technical base. Recognizing the intertwined nature of technology, economics, and global affairs, he went on to complete a Master of Economics in Trade, Development, and Planning from the same institution in June 1994. These formative academic experiences fostered in him a deep appreciation for systems thinking, problem-solving, and cross-cultural collaboration.

Currently, Hani is pursuing a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering & Management at Aalto University, expected to be completed by December 2025. His doctoral journey reflects his continued passion for integrating strategic planning with human-centered approaches, particularly in the context of humanitarian and international development initiatives. Aalto University, known for its interdisciplinary innovation and research excellence, offers a fitting environment for his intellectually ambitious and socially impactful goals.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Hani Tarabichi has built a distinguished professional path characterized by strategic leadership, educational innovation, and international collaboration. As the Strategy Lead at WiTLAB (World in Transition LAB) at Aalto University since December 2023, Hani has been at the forefront of shaping the lab’s vision and impact. WiTLAB, an interdisciplinary program focusing on humanitarian architecture and life-wide learning, benefits significantly from his strategic foresight. He successfully crafted a roadmap for growth and internationalization, strengthened stakeholder networks, and facilitated memorandums of understanding with international NGOs and universities in the Global South.

Prior to this, from October 2022 to November 2023, Hani served as a Lecturer and Mentor in the IDBM (International Design & Business Management) program at Aalto University. Here, his role encompassed co-lecturing in courses like Business Model Design and Advanced Topics in IDBM. His contributions helped elevate student satisfaction scores, enhance curriculum relevance, and introduce critical perspectives on decolonizing peace and global development. Moreover, his mentorship notably increased thesis completion rates, a testament to his ability to guide and inspire future professionals.

Earlier roles, including his time as a Program Manager (details of which were partially provided), also reflect his extensive experience in orchestrating academic and capacity-building initiatives.

🌍 Contributions and Research Focus

Hani Tarabichi’s work sits at the intersection of strategy, education, and social impact. His contributions span strategic planning, interdisciplinary education, and the cultivation of global learning communities. At WiTLAB, he leverages research to promote life-wide learning, humanitarian responses, and sustainable development. His focus is not only on addressing immediate educational needs but also on building long-term capacity in marginalized or transitional communities through inclusive and participatory approaches.

In the IDBM program, his efforts brought a critical global lens to design and business pedagogy, challenging conventional narratives and introducing topics such as the decolonization of peace-building efforts. His research and programmatic focus emphasize collaborative problem-solving, integrating insights from business, design, and technology to create solutions for complex global challenges.

🏅 Accolades and Recognition

While Hani’s professional style leans toward collaboration over personal accolades, his impact is nonetheless recognized through tangible outcomes. Under his leadership at WiTLAB, stakeholder engagement increased by 28%, and digital outreach saw significant growth—with viewership up by 38% and social media followers rising by 32%. His teaching in IDBM earned him student evaluation scores of 4.6 out of 5, and his content development efforts led to an 18% increase in participant satisfaction.

Moreover, his success in securing new organizations as case study partners enriched the program’s diversity and relevance. These metrics are reflective of both peer and institutional recognition for his contributions to academic innovation and engagement.

🌟 Impact and Influence

Hani’s influence extends well beyond the classroom or boardroom. Through his work at Aalto University, he is shaping a new generation of changemakers equipped with the skills, empathy, and systems-thinking mindset necessary for global problem-solving. His emphasis on humanitarian architecture and life-wide learning speaks to his belief in education as a tool not just for employment, but for empowerment and societal transformation.

By fostering inclusive collaborations between Northern institutions and Global South partners, Hani is actively contributing to a more equitable academic and development landscape. His model encourages reciprocity, shared learning, and sustainable partnerships.

🚀 Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking ahead, Hani Tarabichi is poised to leave a lasting legacy in the domains of strategic educational reform, interdisciplinary program development, and global south-north partnerships. His Ph.D. research is expected to deepen his insights into how strategic planning and design thinking can be applied in humanitarian contexts, potentially influencing both academic literature and on-the-ground practices.

Hani’s legacy will likely be felt in the programs he develops, the students he mentors, and the cross-cultural dialogues he facilitates. His career reflects a commitment to bridging theory and practice, always grounded in the belief that innovation, when driven by empathy and strategy, can truly transform the world.

Notable publications 

Public sector innovation through nested experimental spaces: Reinventing the immigrant integration system

  • Authors: Hani H. Tarabichi, Henri A. Schildt, Farah F. Kodeih

  • Journal: Research Policy

  • Year: 2025

Dr. Yanfen Wang | Motivation and Employee Engagement | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Leadership and Management

Dr. Yanfen Wang | Motivation and Employee Engagement | Best Researcher Award

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), China

Author Profile

Google Scholar 

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Yanfen Wang’s academic journey is marked by her unwavering commitment to understanding and advancing knowledge in the field of Business Administration. She began her formal higher education at Xi’an International Studies University in 2014, where she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. Her dedication and passion for business strategy and organizational behavior soon led her to enroll in a Master’s program in Business Administration at the same institution. During this time, she studied under Professor Zizhen Geng, who played a crucial role in shaping her early research direction, particularly in team dynamics and creativity within organizational contexts.

This foundation set the stage for her doctoral journey at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC)—one of China’s most prestigious research institutions—where she embarked on her Ph.D. in Business Administration in 2022 under the mentorship of Professor Qingxiong Weng. Her doctoral studies mark a significant transition into more rigorous and high-impact research, focusing on workplace psychology, employee behavior, and leadership dynamics.

💼 Professional Endeavors

Yanfen Wang’s professional journey as an academic has been heavily research-oriented, marked by her active involvement in both theoretical development and empirical investigation in the field of organizational behavior. Despite being a current Ph.D. candidate, she has already authored and co-authored several impactful papers in reputable international journals.

Her involvement in ongoing research collaborations—with both her former advisor, Professor Geng, and current mentor, Professor Weng—demonstrates her ability to bridge academic theory with practical implications. She has delved into pressing workplace issues such as leader-member exchange (LMX), paradoxical leadership, and team creativity, offering nuanced perspectives and empirical evidence that contribute meaningfully to business psychology literature.

Her growing portfolio of conference presentations at the Academy of Management (AOM) meetings further reflects her standing in the global academic community. Notably, she has presented three times at AOM (2021, 2023, and 2024), with one of her works being recognized with a Best Paper Notification in the OB Division—a testament to the quality and relevance of her research.

🧠 Contributions and Research Focus

Yanfen’s research contributions explore the intricacies of employee behavior and workplace dynamics, particularly in the Chinese organizational context. A core theme running through her publications is how leadership behaviors, both constructive and paradoxical, influence employee outcomes—ranging from creativity and motivation to counterproductive behaviors.

One of her notable studies, “Catching up or putting them down?”, published in Personality and Individual Differences, investigates how employees react to highly conscientious coworkers—shedding light on social comparison mechanisms and interpersonal dynamics in workgroups. Her co-authored paper on “LMX ambivalence” in Applied Psychology dissects the dual-edge consequences of inconsistent leader behavior, identifying its potential to deplete relational energy and trigger counterproductive actions.

In her work in progress, she is tackling bold questions like “Cheating from dominating?”, where she examines how dominant leadership traits can inadvertently push employees toward unethical behaviors—highlighting her interest in the darker side of organizational psychology.

🏆 Accolades and Recognition

Though still early in her academic career, Yanfen has garnered impressive accolades. Her Best Paper Notification from the AOM’s Organizational Behavior Division is a significant early recognition that places her among promising young scholars in the field. Moreover, her role as corresponding author on several publications—an uncommon feat for a doctoral student—reflects the high level of trust and credibility she has earned from her collaborators.

Her Google Scholar profile further reinforces her academic impact, showcasing her citations and growing influence within the research community.

🌏 Impact and Influence

Yanfen Wang’s research resonates deeply in both academic and practical circles. Her focus on team dynamics, leadership styles, and employee behavior offers actionable insights for HR professionals, corporate leaders, and organizational consultants seeking to build more effective and ethical workplace cultures. Her empirical work, rooted in both Western theories and Chinese workplace realities, provides a culturally grounded perspective that enriches global organizational behavior scholarship.

Her multi-methodological expertise—ranging from SPSS and Stata to Mplus, Amos, and fsQCA—also showcases her versatility in tackling complex behavioral phenomena using robust analytical techniques. This skill set makes her well-positioned to produce rigorous and policy-relevant research in both academia and industry contexts.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions

Looking ahead, Yanfen Wang is poised to become a thought leader in organizational psychology and business administration. Her research trajectory suggests a growing interest in the ethical and psychological implications of leadership, and her ability to interrogate both the motivational and adverse effects of workplace behaviors will continue to shape conversations in organizational studies.

Her evolving body of work contributes not only to theory development but also to practical frameworks that managers and organizational developers can use to create healthier, more transparent, and performance-enhancing workplaces.

If her early achievements are any indication, Yanfen is set to leave a lasting impact on the academic world, with a legacy rooted in intellectual curiosity, methodological rigor, and a deep commitment to advancing human potential in organizational settings. ✨

Motivation and hindrance: The mixed blessing of paradoxical leader behaviour for workplace creativity in China

Authors: Z. Geng, Y. Wang, Y. Fan, C. Shan
Journal: Asia Pacific Business Review
Year: 2023

Motivating R&D team creativity: the social cognitive effect of external developmental feedback and internal goal interdependence

Authors: Z. Geng, Y. Wang, J. Xue, H. Tang, H. Liu
Journal: R&D Management
Year: 2022

Diminished relational energy: How and when LMX ambivalence leads to leader‐directed counterproductive work behavior

Authors: L. Chen, Q. Weng, A. Popelnukha, H. Jiang, Y. Wang
Journal: Applied Psychology
Year: 2025

Catching up or putting them down? An investigation of employee divergent reactions to coworker conscientiousness

Authors: Q. Weng, Y. Wang, X. Wang, H. Qin
Journal: Personality and Individual Differences
Year: 2025

Navigating the Paradox of Originality and Usefulness: The Roles of Distinct Error Climates in Fostering Team Radical Creativity

Authors: Z. Geng, M. Xiao, H. Wang, J. Xue, Y. Wang
Journal: Creativity and Innovation Management
Year: 2025