Dr Michelle Mahdon

Michelle gained her PhD in Economic Psychology from Exeter University. She is a Chartered Psychologist and an Action Learning facilitator.  She is also Executive Director of TEXL, a sophisticated survey platform which helps educators, individuals, companies and researchers to assess leadership abilities and potential. 

Michelle’s areas of interest and expertise range across workplace issues including health and wellbeing and leadership and performance in the workplace.  Alongside her role with TEXL Michelle’s recent research projects have also focused on the dynamics of networks within the workplace.  Michelle is always keen to work on projects that can make a difference to improve people’s experiences 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.  She was co-author of an impact case study project that 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 enjoys working directly with organisations, particularly projects that empower others to take action to make positive changes in their workplaces.  As a qualified Action Learning facilitator Michelle has delivered several sets as part of the BEIS Peer Network initiative, which focused on supporting local SMEs to develop and grow.  Other external engagement activity has included  working with organisations such as Devon Air Ambulance and EU Panasonic, as well as collaborating with the Business School’s network of Fellows and Honorary Professors, including John Amaechi OBE, with whom Michelle has worked closely. 

As Director of TEXL, Michelle is leading the development of an innovative new platform, which will support knowledge exchange of making the rigour of academia accessible to all those who want meaningful personal development tools by reducing time to create, administer and analyse surveys and simplifying access to scientifically validated measures, unlike other tools in Wild-West of personal development. Part of her role involves developing a sustainable business model to ensure the social impact of the venture. 

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