Sehrish Shahid

Dr Sehrish Shahid holds a PhD in Management from the School of Management, RMIT University, where she completed her doctoral studies under the prestigious International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS). Her academic career spans several years, during which she has served in diverse faculty roles, including at the University of Central Punjab (Pakistan), as a Casual Academic in the School of Management at RMIT University, and as an MBA Lecturer at the Australian Institute of Business (AIB). She currently works as a Lecturer and Program Manager for the Leadership and Strategy major in the Bachelor of Commerce. She contributes to institutional governance through her membership on the COBL Human Research Ethics Committee and the School of Management Research Committee.

Her research experience includes involvement in multiple funded projects, such as SAFE, supported by the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions under the Change Our Game Grant, and a leadership–job readiness project funded by the City of Melbourne Council. In 2023, she secured an Early Career Researcher grant from the EE Truby Williams Endowment. In 2024, she secured a career reignite grant from the college.

Before joining academia, Dr Shahid worked in industry, which informs the applied and practice-oriented dimensions of her scholarly work. As a management and leadership researcher, her interests centre on workplace design, power dynamics, leader–follower relationships, and the creation of equitable, inclusive organisational systems. She aims to advance research that reshapes narratives around fairness, dignity, and inclusion at work.

Dr Shahid has presented her work at leading international conferences, including the Academy of Management (AOM), British Academy of Management (BAM), European Academy of Management (EURAM), and the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM). She has published in ABDC-ranked journals and actively contributes to the academic community as a reviewer for various peer-reviewed outlets. Her research contributions have been recognised through multiple institutional awards, including a 2018 publication grant from the School of Management at RMIT University, 2022 internal teaching and research grants from the Australian Institute of Business (AIB), and the prestigious 2025 COBL ECR Research Excellence Award.

In her teaching practice, Dr Shahid has a strong interest in work-integrated learning and designing learning experiences where students apply knowledge to real organisational problems. Her pedagogical philosophy is grounded in progressivism and student-centred learning, emphasising authenticity, psychological insight, and the development of competent, reflective business professionals. She is committed to empowering students and transforming lives through education.