University of Exeter Business School

Dr Michelle Mahdon

Dr Michelle Mahdon

Research Fellow

 M.Mahdon2@exeter.ac.uk

 -

 Streatham Court 1.63

 

Streatham Court, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter, EX4 4PU, UK

Overview

Michelle gained her PhD in Economic Psychology from Exeter University and is a Chartered Psychologist specialising in researching health and wellbeing in the workplace.  Prior to joining the Business School in 2011, Michelle was Associate Director of The Work Foundation and Programme Leader of the Health and Wellbeing at Work unit.  Her post as head of a team of researchers and organisation development consultants saw her lead multiple projects with high impact across industry and government policy.  One of her final projects was leading a multi-organisation team that provided the evidence base for the Boorman Review into the health and wellbeing of employees of one of the world’s largest employers: the NHS. 

Since joining the Business School Michelle has continued to focus on wellbeing in the workplace, exploring the roles of resilience, mindfulness and social identity.  Her last project involved evaluating the impact of a large scale mindfulness intervention in the Kenyan Prison System.  In 2017 Michelle gained Associate Fellow status of the British Psychological Society based on her contributions to research and impact in health and wellbeing in industry.

Michelle’s latest role explores the dynamics of networks within the workplace, leadership, performance and wellbeing. 

Michelle works part-time as a member of the Business School and outside of work enjoys spending time with her young family.

Qualifications

  • BSc
  • MSc
  • PhD
  • CPsychol
  • AFBPsS

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Research

Research interests

  • Wellbeing in the workplace
  • Leadership and performance
  • Social identity
  • Networks

Research projects

  • Political skills and changes in networks
  • Leadership and health in the workplace
  • Leadership and health networks

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Publications

Journal articles

Cullen-Lester K, Maupin C, Floyd T, Mahdon M, Gerbasi A, Carter D (In Press). Crossing the Bridge from Network Training to Development: a Guide to Move Trainees from Classroom Insights to Effective Networks. Organizational Dynamics Abstract.
Adarves-Yorno I, Mahdon M, Schueltke L, Koschate-Reis M, Tarrant M (In Press). Mindfulness and Social Identity: Predicting Wellbeing in a High Stress Environment. Journal of Applied Social Psychology
Bailey D, Bentley G, Chapain C, de Ruyter A, Hall S, Mahdon M (2012). DEALING WITH PLANT CLOSURES AND RED UNDANCIES. KEY LESSONS FROM MG ROVER. Regions Magazine, 275(1), 24-27.
Armstrong K, Bailey D, De Ruyter A, Mahdon M, Thomas H (2008). Auto plant closures, policy responses and labour market outcomes: a comparison of MG Rover in the UK and Mitsubishi in Australia. Policy Studies, 29(3), 343-355. Abstract.
Mahoney MS, Kemp S, Webley P (2005). Factors in lay preferences for government or private supply of services. Journal of Economic Psychology, 26(1), 73-87.

Chapters

Gerbasi A, Emery C, Cullen-Lester K, Mahdon M (2023). Satisfied in the outgroup: How co-worker relational energy compensates for low-quality relationships with managers. In  (Ed) Understanding Workplace Relationships: an Examination of the Antecedents and Outcomes, 137-165. Abstract.
de Ruyter A, Bailey D, Mahdon M (2010). Changing lanes or stuck in the slow lane? Employment precariousness and labour market status of MG rover workers four years after closure. In  (Ed) Globalization and Precarious Forms of Production and Employment: Challenges for Workers and Unions, 214-229.

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External Engagement and Impact

Awards and Honours

  • Academic funding includes:
  • ESRC Impact Acceleration Awards for Mindful Leader project
  • ESRC grant to follow up MG Rover workers: health and wellbeing following unemployment.  Grant with University of Birmingham
  • ESRC funding for PhD and MSc

External positions

  • Reviewer for Frontiers

Invited lectures

  • Work and Wellbeing, Keynote presentation, RSA winter conference, London, UK
  • Innovation in Absence Management, Public Policy Exchange, London, UK
  • The Serendipity of Interaction, OECD, Paris, France
  • Managing Absence:  Health and Well-being, Association of Colleges, London, UK
  • Changing workforce: Implications for mental health, Scottish Mental Health Commission 10th anniversary, Glasgow, UK
  • Leading for Change Social change and leadership practitioner workshop, SCIE, UK

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