Meet the research fellows: Luisa Mercedes Kunigham on team dynamics
With a diverse background spanning psychology, management consultancy, and leadership within NGOs, Luisa Mercedes Kunigham is now delving into the world of team dynamics and corporate strategy, as a research fellow at the DIG institute.
Originally being from Germany, Luisa M. Kunigham gained experience across multiple fields before embarking on her PhD, including consultancy in Switzerland and board membership with Engineers Without Borders Austria. She also has a degree in Psychology, from the University of Innsbruck in Austria. This diverse background has given her a strong foundation to approach her current research.
Kunighams current research at NHH revolves around team dynamics and leadership, under the supervision of professors Therese Egeland and Vidar Schei.
Her primary interest lies in exploring how teams shape strategy as a practice, focusing on social and emotional factors that influence team behavior and attitudes towards new strategic team initiation practices and corporate processes such as digitalization or sustainability.
“Right now, I am in the starting phase, so it is quite a bit of course work. However, we use the courses to further develop the topic,” she explains.
The significance of teams
Her experience from working in many different environments inspired her to pursue this particular area of research.
“I realized that the teams that I worked in were really important to the outcome. When the dynamics were strong, the outcomes tended to be more innovative. While, when the dynamics weren’t as good, we tended to fall back on established rules.”
Her experience in the board for Engineers Without Borders, Austria, also spiked her interest in the topic.
“It became clear that teams played a crucial role in shaping the strategy we pursued. Once we began collaborating closely with both project teams and leaders, we saw a significant transformation, and the strategy became much more effective and present in everyday work. This impact was evident in the projects we pursued and cooperations with the people in our partner countries.”
“That made me think that I would love to know if this was only a feeling I had, or if there is something more behind it.”
An easy decision
In her daily work, Luisa M. Kunigham colleagues are a significant source of inspiration.
“In our office, it is very fun. We have a lot of great conversations, share our cultures and everyone works on super interesting projects.”
Kunigham also draws inspiration from her mentors, particularly the founder of Engineers Without Borders Austria, whom she describes as “empowering, creative and innovative”. Her current supervisors at NHH have also played an important role in shaping her journey.
"I felt an immediate connection with them during the application process, which made the decision to join NHH easy," she shares.
A balanced mix of determined and relaxed
For those considering a similar academic path, Kunigham advises following your interests.
“It helps to genuinely feel an interest and a passion for the research area you apply to. I also think you need to be a balanced mix of determined and relaxed. Things may not work out immediately, but when they do, it is because it is the right fit for everyone involved.”
As she continues her research at the DIG Institute, Kunigham looks forward to making meaningful contributions to the fields of team dynamics, leadership, and corporate strategy. In the coming months, she plans to broaden her knowledge, explore the work of others in the field, and eventually narrow her focus as she defines her research project.