Andrea Gurtner

Prof. Dr. Andrea Gurtner is the Director of the Institute for New Work at the Business School of Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). She specializes in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), organizational behavior, and workplace management. Her research focuses on LGBTIQ+ inclusion, leadership development, and strategies for reducing work-related stress in healthcare professionals. She leads major projects like the LGBTIAQ+@Campus initiative, collaborating with PH Bern and FHNW to promote inclusive university environments. Her work bridges academic research with practical DEI implementation, emphasizing authentic inclusion over superficial corporate social responsibility (pinkwashing critique). She has published extensively on topics ranging from virtual team dynamics to generational workforce expectations.

• Education Focus: Curriculum development for continuing education programs.
• Research Units: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at the Institute for New Work.
• Key Projects:
  • LGBTIAQ+@Campus: Promoting inclusivity for queer students in Swiss universities.
  • DEI Empirical Studies: Switzerland-focused analyses of LGBTQ+ workplace experiences (2017, 2020, 2022).
  • STRAIN Study: Work-related stress mitigation in healthcare leadership (2017–2020).

Her articles analyze intersectional DEI challenges, digital HR transformation, and team strategies under information overload. She advocates for measurable DEI practices over symbolic gestures, influencing both academic and corporate sectors.

Grants and collaborations include funding from BFH, SFISM, and international partnerships (e.g., University of South Florida, FHNW). She advises on DEI policies for municipalities and organizations, emphasizing sustainable cultural change.