Project Title: Vilification and its impact on career development

Supervisor: Dr Alexandra Budjanovcanin, Dr Ricardo Rodrigues

Year of Entry: 2021, full-time

Ross's research interests lie at the convergence of leadership studies and career development studies; and conscious/subconscious influences acting on leaders as they navigate through the various stages of their professional lives. In 2021 Ross was awarded a full PhD scholarship by the T Ritchie Rodger Research Fund, administered by the British Psychological Society to carry out his doctoral research at King's College London in King's Business School.

In 2019, Ross completed INSEAD’s Executive Master of Change Degree program and graduated with Distinction. His INSEAD dissertation entitled "When Leaders are Vilified: Exploring the inner transitional journey of leaders who are vilified" was presented at the 2021 Symposium of the National Institute of Organisation Dynamics Australia. Ross is also collaborating on a manuscript with colleagues globally on the topic of identifying hidden challenges to managing crisis and change using a systems psycho-dynamics approach.

In addition to this degree, Ross previously completed an MBA at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto, Canada, a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business Management at Seneca College (Toronto), and an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in International Politics from The University of Western Ontario (London, Canada). Ross has also successfully completed his UK Investment Management Certificate, the Canadian Securities Course, and held the Personal Financial Planner designation in Canada.

During a successful career in financial services spanning over 25-years, Ross held senior roles in banking strategy, operational risk management, learning and development, global payments products, corporate sales, wealth management, and enterprise leadership. In 2013 and 2014, Ross won Royal Bank of Canada’s Private Banking Gold Award given to the top enterprise leaders across Canada. Prior to that in 2009 and 2011, Ross won the Barclays Chairman’s award for Individual Contribution to the Monaco and to the Europe regions respectively. In 2002, Ross was privileged to be part of the World Youth Day team organising the visit of Pope John Paul II to Toronto. In 2003 Ross relocated to England and worked as Deputy Fundraising Director at the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and after several years, Ross was headhunted by the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain to join its Executive Committee as Development Director.

Ross has served as Non-Executive Director on the boards of two UK charities in the past, and served on the board for the Canadian Centre for Diversity between 2012 and 2014 as Chair of its Development Committee as well as being Treasurer for a short period. Ross has coached senior professionals across Canada, the UK, and Continental Europe.