Sarah Gilmore is Professor of Organization Studies and Director of Research Impact at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. She also serves as Head of the Management, Employment and Organisation Department. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Professor Gilmore brings interdisciplinary expertise that bridges management studies, sport science, and psychoanalytic theory. Professor Gilmore's educational background includes a PhD in Business and Management from the University of Portsmouth (2001), an MSc in Theoretical Psychoanalytic Studies from University College London (2006), a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education from the University of Portsmouth (2001), a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management from the University of Portsmouth (1990), and a BA (Hons) in English and European Literature from the University of Essex (1982). Professor Gilmore's research makes significant contributions across three interconnected areas. First, her longitudinal ethnographic studies in elite sport examine the precariousness of sport science professionals, contributing to knowledge about emergent professions within management and organization studies. Second, she explores the emotional labor of sport scientists and the challenges this poses for their professional formation. Third, her work on organizational change and strategic HRM has provided models for how sports clubs can secure high performance outcomes through asset maximization, which has been adopted by several English Premier League and Championship clubs. Her secondary research stream employs psychoanalytical (object relations) theories to examine managerial work in fast-paced environments, particularly focusing on English football managers. This work has evolved to explore the materiality of leadership, collective leadership, and new understandings of socialization. These investigations build upon her earlier papers that used psychoanalytical theory to highlight the role of anxiety in professionally accredited environments. Professor Gilmore's extensive publication record demonstrates her influence across multiple disciplines. Her recent work shows a clear trajectory toward examining precarious work conditions, leadership pathologies (particularly vulnerable narcissism), gender dynamics in organizations, and the intersection of psychoanalytic theory with organizational studies. Her 2023-2025 publications reveal a growing focus on social justice issues, particularly around gender discrimination and resistance in organizational contexts. Best paper award for: Barker, J., Gilmore, S., & Gilson, C. (2013). Rhetorical profiling: Modes of meaning generation in organizational topoi. Canadian Journal of Administrative Science, 30(4), 280-291. Winner of EmeraldLiterati outstanding paper award (2008): Gilmore, S., & Williams, S. (2007). Conceptualizing the 'Personnel Professional': A Critical Analysis of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's Professional Qualification Scheme. Personnel Review, 36(4), 398-414. Professor Gilmore actively supervises PhD students and serves as Series Editor for Dialogues in Critical Management Studies. She is also a valued member of editorial boards for several prestigious journals including Academy of Management Learning & Education, Canadian Journal of Administrative Science, Journal of Organizational Change Management, and Organization. Her commitment to academic service extends to her role as Representative at Large for the Academy of Management CMS Division (2012-2014 & 2015-2017). Professor Gilmore maintains strong connections with professional practice, having worked for not-for-profit organizations and one of the UK's largest public sector trade unions before entering academia. Her current research projects focus on Universal Basic Income impacts on the changing world of work and vulnerable narcissistic leadership, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to addressing contemporary organizational challenges.
