Kate Sullivan

Kate Sullivan is an Assistant Professor of Strategy and Enterprise in the Department of Management within the School of Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, affiliated with the Edinburgh Business School. She teaches across undergraduate, postgraduate, and graduate apprenticeship programs and is actively involved in institutional citizenship, including roles as Year 1 Coordinator and Communications Co-Lead for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Education:

• PhD in Psychology
• MSc (Distinction) in Business Psychology
• BA (Hons) in Anthropology (with concentrations in Archaeology, Classics, and Theatre)

Her research is highly interdisciplinary, focusing on the intersections of work and leisure, motivation in entrepreneurial contexts, and neurodiversity and well-being. Drawing from psychology, anthropology, and business history, she explores gamification, immersive learning, and the application of heritage studies to modern organizational challenges. She is particularly interested in how identity, authenticity, and affective motivation shape creative and entrepreneurial work.

Her recent publications examine cultural attitudes toward automotive heritage and strategies for engaging younger generations through nostalgic authenticity. These works reflect her broader interest in critical heritage studies, material culture, and the psychology of value.

Scientific Awards:

• Golden Quill Award (2014, 2015, 2016)
• Undergraduate Writing Prize (2005)
• Historic Vehicle Association Research Merit Award (2018)

Kate has secured significant research funding, including the Watt Scholarship (£138,000) and Heriot-Watt Distinction Scholarship. She advises on neurodiversity through Ehlers-Danlos Support UK and serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Motorsport Culture & History. She is an active peer reviewer for journals such as the International Journal of Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

She is involved in multiple research networks and upcoming conference engagements in 2025, including workshops at Dauphine and the ECSB Entrepreneurship Education Conference, reflecting her ongoing scholarly contributions.