A talk by Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellow Angelica Leigh

Despite recognizing the importance of societal events, organizational scholars and practitioners alike rarely are prepared to address the effects of these events on their employees. Leigh will discuss a series of research papers in which she explores the effect of societal events, or "mega-threats," on employees in the workplace, as well as initial findings from new research examining the broader effects of mega-threats on individuals who share identity with victims of a mega-threat and those who are members of a different racially stigmatized identity group. Taken together, this work yields important theoretical and practical implications about the significant influence that societal events which occur outside of organizations have on employees when they enter the workplace and on individuals in society more broadly.

Leigh is a member of the 2023 class of Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellows. Together they comprise an exemplary set of global scholars committed to leveraging their individual expertise, thought leadership, research and networks to further the institute’s efforts to examine and drive solutions to issues facing business and the economy today. This year’s class will support the institute’s 2023 grand challenge, Workforce Disrupted: Seeking the Labor Market’s Next Equilibrium.