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Business & Economics

Dr Fiona Sheridan

BA, CIPD, DBS, MBS, PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer Above The Bar
School of Business and Economics
NUI GALWAY
T: Ext. 5386
E: fiona.sheridan@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Fiona's PhD (Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, 2011) is in the area of leadership and gender.  Specifically, she examined the role congruity theory of prejudice towards female leaders (Eagly and Karau, 2002). Prior to that, she completed an MBS IR and HRM at UL.  Fiona's undergraduate qualifications include a BA (French and Sociology and Politics) from UCG and a Diploma in Business Studies, at GMIT. 

Having worked for several years in industry, Fiona started lecturing in GMIT in 2001 on the CIPD Diploma and then joined the Discipline of Management (at NUIG) in 2002.  Since that time, Fiona has taught, designed and managed several management-, business- and skill-development modules to postgraduate, undergraduate, Access and Foundation students and adult learners, in the School of Business and Economics, Student Services and the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development.

Fiona aims to develop and deliver quality modules with a view to engaging students at all levels.  She is delighted to have received a Teaching Hero Award, 2020, from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and the Union of Students in Ireland and has been nominated for other teaching awards since.  

Fiona's teaching philosophy is to develop in students not only knowledge of content, but also the ability to engage in and reflect on their learning and capacity for leadership, and to think critically about the concepts, rationale and implications of the material that they are studying, for life outside the university, as well as within it.

Fiona is the Programme Director the MSc Human Resource Management.  She enjoys leading this programme and teaching modules on it. Leading the re-design of a contemporary, competitive, and bespoke new MSc Human Resource Management programme that meets market, student and employer needs, with new modules such as Sustainable Human Resource Management, has been a very rewarding and informative experience for Fiona. With a view to maximising the attractiveness, reach and credibility of the programme, Fiona  led the CIPD reaccreditation for the MSc Human Resource Management and was successful in her submission for SHRM alignment, making us the third Irish university to have acquired this alignment and one of the first 10 programmes in Europe.  Fiona secured a new award called: "CIPD Award for the Best Applied Management Report for MSc Human Resource Management" and "CIPD Award for the Best Applied Management Report for MSc Strategy, Innovation and People Management". Fiona secured this new sponsorship in early 2022.  The first award will be given to the AY22-23 graduates.

Fiona's research interests inform her teaching, not just through the content, but through her delivery and design of the modules, where the classroom culture that she attempts to create, allows for a cooperative paradigm of leadership and education to shine through, where experience and knowledge are leveraged between lecturer and students and the communities that we represent.  Humility, authenticity, vulnerability, self-awareness, creativity, innovation and compassion are key to this classroom experience and are to the fore of her design, delivery and assessment choices.  Teaching, researching and strategising for the public good requires a commitment to the co-creation of knowledge between student and teacher and it is this that is the heart of Fiona's classroom, with the health and wellbeing of the student to the fore.
Fiona's PhD (Kemmy Business School, University of Limerick, 2011) is in the area of leadership and gender.  Specifically, she examined the role congruity theory of prejudice towards female leaders (Eagly and Karau, 2002). Prior to that, she completed an MBS IR and HRM at UL.  Fiona's undergraduate qualifications include a BA (French and Sociology and Politics) from UCG and a Diploma in Business Studies, at GMIT. 

Having worked for several years in industry, Fiona started lecturing in GMIT in 2001 on the CIPD Diploma and then joined the Discipline of Management (at NUIG) in 2002.  Since that time, Fiona has taught, designed and managed several management-, business- and skill-development modules to postgraduate, undergraduate, Access and Foundation students and adult learners, in the School of Business and Economics, Student Services and the Centre for Adult Learning and Professional Development.

Fiona aims to develop and deliver quality modules with a view to engaging students at all levels.  She is delighted to have received a Teaching Hero Award, 2020, from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and the Union of Students in Ireland and has been nominated for other teaching awards since.  

Fiona's teaching philosophy is to develop in students not only knowledge of content, but also the ability to engage in and reflect on their learning and capacity for leadership, and to think critically about the concepts, rationale and implications of the material that they are studying, for life outside the university, as well as within it.

Fiona is the Programme Director the MSc Human Resource Management.  She enjoys leading this programme and teaching modules on it. Leading the re-design of a contemporary, competitive, and bespoke new MSc Human Resource Management programme that meets market, student and employer needs, with new modules such as Sustainable Human Resource Management, has been a very rewarding and informative experience for Fiona. With a view to maximising the attractiveness, reach and credibility of the programme, Fiona  led the CIPD reaccreditation for the MSc Human Resource Management and was successful in her submission for SHRM alignment, making us the third Irish university to have acquired this alignment and one of the first 10 programmes in Europe.  Fiona secured a new award called: "CIPD Award for the Best Applied Management Report for MSc Human Resource Management" and "CIPD Award for the Best Applied Management Report for MSc Strategy, Innovation and People Management". Fiona secured this new sponsorship in early 2022.  The first award will be given to the AY22-23 graduates.

Fiona's research interests inform her teaching, not just through the content, but through her delivery and design of the modules, where the classroom culture that she attempts to create, allows for a cooperative paradigm of leadership and education to shine through, where experience and knowledge are leveraged between lecturer and students and the communities that we represent.  Humility, authenticity, vulnerability, self-awareness, creativity, innovation and compassion are key to this classroom experience and are to the fore of her design, delivery and assessment choices.  Teaching, researching and strategising for the public good requires a commitment to the co-creation of knowledge between student and teacher and it is this that is the heart of Fiona's classroom, with the health and wellbeing of the student to the fore.

Research Interests

Fiona's research interests and peer reviewed publications are in the areas of leadership and gender, prejudice and stereotyping and gendered language in the workplace.  An evolving area of interest for Fiona is focused on authentic leader-follower development and the crucibles of leadership.  

Fiona's research interests inform her teaching, not just through the content, but through her delivery and design of the modules, where the classroom culture that she attempts to create, allows for a cooperative paradigm of leadership and education to shine through, where experience and knowledge are leveraged between lecturer and students and the communities that we represent.   
Humility, authenticity, vulnerability, self-awareness, creativity, innovation and compassion are key to this classroom experience and are to the fore of Fiona's design, delivery and assessment choices. 

Teaching, researching and strategising for the public good requires a commitment to the co-creation of knowledge between student and teacher and it is this that is the heart of Fiona's classroom, with the health and wellbeing of the student to the fore.

Now, more than ever before, we need leaders to reflect on, value and use their uniqueness for connection and creation of a positive ethical organisational climate where the capacity for decent work, performance, sustainability and economic growth is enhanced.  Business Schools need to address that the world we live in now is volatile, chaotic and ambiguous.  Thus we must to teach students that as leaders of themselves and others that they will need to make decisions under the conditions of ambiguity.  Students must be allowed to consider and practice in order to step into the arena when they don't know what the outcome will look like.  Fona believes that we need to prepare students to be ready to adapt to changing conditions because industry requires leaders today to be highly adaptable, creative and innovative.  

Work in progress, currently:
Title: " Crucibles of leadership: the impact of traumatic life events on leadership development".
Authors: Dr. Fiona Sheridan, Professor Thomas Garavan, Professor John Blenkinsopp

Title: "Bricolage as a strategic tool: A case study of how bricolage  affects social impact across the ARISE collective."
Authors: Mike Maguire, Johanna Clancy, Fiona Sheridan

Title: "The Crucibles of Leadership: an educational expression of leadership and reflection in higher education"
Authors: Dr. Fiona Sheridan, Professor John Blenkinsopp, Professor Thomas Garavan 

Title: "The role of the crucibles of leadership in student health and well-being in higher education" Authors: Dr. Fiona Sheridan, Professor John Blenkinsopp, Professor Thomas Garavan 

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2007) 'Gender, language and the workplace: an exploratory study'
Sheridan, F. (2007) 'Gender, language and the workplace: an exploratory study'. Women In Management Review, 22 (4):319-336 [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2012) 'Prejudice Against Women Leaders: Sex of Voice'
Sheridan, F. (2012) 'Prejudice Against Women Leaders: Sex of Voice' In: Handbook of Research on Promoting Women¿s Careers. UK: Edward Elgar. [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
Irish Academy of Management Conference,
Sheridan, F. Gender and language. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Management Conference, Trinity College Dublin . [Details]
European Academy of Management,
Sheridan, F. Similarities and differences between men's and women's use of language in the workplace. [Invited Oral Presentation], European Academy of Management, Oslo, Norway . [Details]
Irish Academy of Mangaement,
Quinn, M., Sheridan, F. and Gaynor, S. A survey of workers' employment outcomes in the Irish hotel sector. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Mangaement, University College Cork . [Details]
Irish Academy of Management Conference,
Sheridan, F. Gender, language and the workplace. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Management Conference, University College Cork . [Details]
Irish Academy of Management,
Sheridan, F., Schermerhorn, J. Gendered Language and Perceived Leadership Role Incongruities: Challenges for Women in Management. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Management, Queen's University, Belfast . [Details]
Irish Academy of Management Conference, Cork Institute of Technology,
Sheridan, F. Role Incongruity of Leadership; the role of gendered language. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Management Conference, Cork Institute of Technology, Cork Institute of Technology . [Details]
(2020) Irish Academy of Management Conference, 2020,
Sheridan, F. (2020) New paradigms of leadership; transformational leadership and vulnerability. [Invited Oral Presentation], Irish Academy of Management Conference, 2020, Dublin City University , 26-AUG-20 - 27-AUG-20. [Details]
(2021) Leadership and vulnerability; paradigms and perspectives,
Sheridan, F. (2021) Leadership and vulnerability; paradigms and perspectives. [Invited Oral Presentation], Leadership and vulnerability; paradigms and perspectives, Irish Academy of Management , 25-AUG-21 - 26-AUG-21. [Details]
(2021) Leadership and vulnerability; paradigms and perspectives,
Sheridan, F. (2021) Leadership and vulnerability; paradigms and perspectives. [Invited Oral Presentation], Leadership and vulnerability; paradigms and perspectives, Irish Academy of Management , 25-AUG-21 - 26-AUG-21. [Details]

Thesis

  Year Publication
(2002) Gendered Language in the Workplace; similarities and differences between mens's and women's language in the workplace.
Sheridan, F. (2002) Gendered Language in the Workplace; similarities and differences between mens's and women's language in the workplace. Thesis [Details]
(2011) Prejudice Towards Female Leaders: Role Congruity and Sex of Voice.
Sheridan, F. (2011) Prejudice Towards Female Leaders: Role Congruity and Sex of Voice. Thesis [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2021 Teaching Hero 2021 National Forum / Union Students in Ireland

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
CIPD Member /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
Siebel Systems Recruitment Manager and HR Assistant /
Discipline of Management, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, NUIG Lecturer Above the Bar /
GMIT Lecturer /
Thermo King Ingersoll Rand HR Officer /
National College of Ireland Lecturer (part-time) /
European Business Institute Lecturer (part-time) /
Digital Equipment Corporation / Compaq Team Leader, E-Commerce Business Support /
Galway Technical Institute Lecturer (part-time) /
TBG Learning, Rehab Group Trainer /

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
1994 NUIG BA (Hons) French and Sociology and Politics
1995 Galway Mayo Institute of Technology Diploma in Business Studies Business Studies
2006 NUIG Certificate in Training and Education Training and Education
2000 Galway Mayo Institute of Technology CIPD Diploma in HRM HRM
2011 University of Limerick PhD Organisational Psychology
2002 University of Limerick MBS (IR and HRM) Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations

Languages

  Language
Spanish
French

Consultancy

  Client Description
Secondary Schools and Industry
My Best Self: For Secondary School Students / My Best Self: For Employers and Employees

Community Engagement

  Title Type From / To
Board Membership Colaiste Einde, Salthill Galway /
Advocacy Bereaved Parents and Siblings, University Hospital Galway /

Teaching Interests

Fiona has been teaching and supervising at undergraduate, postgraduate and executive levels in Management subjects for twenty one years now, having started teaching on the CIPD Diploma in Human Resource Management in Atlantic Technological University, in 2001.  Since she began lecturing in 2001, she has designed, delivered and assessed a wide range of modules in her area of expertise as well as outside her immediate area of specialisation. 

Fiona aims to demonstrate high quality teaching through creating, delivering and re-designing quality modules that are intended to engage and inspire students at all levels, with a view to maximising learning and personal and professional development, with the SDGs and grand challenges in mind.  Her transdisciplinary and industry experience serves her well in terms of her capacity to contribute to the development of new modules, programmes, practices and teaching modalities within and outside her immediate area of specialisation.

We are a University for the public good and talk of grand challenges and sustainable development goals forms the basis of our narrative, mission and strategic plans.  Fiona's main aim in her role as lecturer and Programme Director for the MSc HRM, is on focussing on developing students ¿ on creating a space where all students are viewed as being the rising leaders that they are.  And thus, her research and teaching is aligned with the School strategy and to the SDGs through the questions that she aims to raise within the leadership, management and educational literatures and associated journals and conferences.  Her current teaching, research interests and papers in progress directly address each of the following SDGs: Good health and well-being; Decent work and economic growth; Industry, innovation and infrastructure and Gender and equality.  

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2021-2022 Leadership and Change MG590 MBA
2021-2022 Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility MG3104 3rd Year Bachelor of Commerce
2021-2022 Megatrends MG3113 Final Year Transdisciplinary
2021-2022 Megatrends MG3115 Final Year Transdisciplinary
2021-2022 Organisational Psychology MG2100 2nd Year Bachelor of Commerce
2021-2022 Organisational Design and Development MG5111 MSc SIPM