Reflection, Univ.-Prof.in Dr. Marie-Thérèse Claes: Four and a Half Years as Head of the Institute for Gender and Diversity in Organizations: A Journey of Growth, Global Reach, and Collective Achievement

From 2020 to 2025, I had the privilege of leading the Institute for Gender and Diversity in Organizations through an inspiring and transformative period. These four and a half years were marked by surprising turns, rich learnings, and significant challenges, but above all, they were defined by collaboration, ambition, and a deep commitment to making a meaningful impact.

My vision was clear: to enhance the Institute’s international presence by cultivating a diverse and dedicated team, welcoming global scholars, and launching future-oriented projects. Together, we worked to establish the Institute as a hub for Gender and Diversity studies, critical dialogue, academic rigor, and social change. A cornerstone was the annual WU Gender and Diversity Conference, which grew in participation and reputation. These conferences brought together voices from around the world and led to our Working Papers Series, which continues to attract significant online readership. We hosted the annual Round Table for Orange the World, underscoring our commitment to addressing gender-based violence and fostering awareness. Through WU Matters, WU Talks, we reached a broader audience with our insights on gender, inclusion, and leadership. Our Praxis course gave students hands-on experience in developing diversity-focused initiatives. One standout product, the Diversity Game, now on our website, remains a playful yet powerful tool for raising awareness. Our global perspective was enriched by many international visitors. We also engaged in numerous collaborations with partners from academia, government, industry, sports, and civil society, bringing gender and diversity topics into new spaces. Research remained a central pillar of our work. We authored many books and contributions on themes such as diversity and intersectional inclusion. We attended conferences across all continents, sharing research and learning from global peers. Looking back, my tenure as head of the Institute was more than a professional chapter, it was a collective journey shaped by vision, trust, and shared purpose. I am deeply grateful to every colleague, student, partner, conference participant and visitor who helped us build something lasting. The Institute today stands not only on strong foundations but also with a forward-looking spirit, and I am proud to have contributed to its story.

The institute for Gender and Diversity in Organizations

Establishing the Institute for Gender and Diversity in Organizations in 2002 marked a milestone for research and higher education. Making questions of gender and diversity an integral part of its research and teaching agenda, WU Vienna is a role model within the international scientific community. Central to the Institute’s research and teaching activities are organizations and diversity as well as their complex social contexts.

Rooted in critical and emancipatory epistemologies, both our research and teaching is guided by enhancing social justice and inclusion. In establishing cross-, inter- and trans-disciplinary perspectives on gender and diversity in organizations, the researchers at the Institute aim at forming a critical research and teaching field, both nationally as well as internationally. In addition to our scientific activities, our aim is to contribute to socio-political discussions and the exchange of knowledge related to issues of diversity in organizations on a broader scale.