Keynote Summary: The emergence of atypical leaders and their role in equality, diversity, and inclusion-led changes at work – towards a co-design approach

Abstract

Leadership talent pools have unprecedented levels of demographic diversity internationally. Yet, leadership diversity remains a global aspiration, particularly in the STEM workforce. Much hope is placed on the emergence of atypical leaders to foster equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI)-led changes at work. This paper questions how atypical leaders may support EDI-led changes. Drawing on recent literature on atypical leaders, I explain the antecedents, correlates, and consequences of atypical leaders’ experience reconciling becoming part of a typical leadership elite (orthodoxy) and being part of an atypical socio-demographic background (heterodoxy). The paper concludes with an overview of how atypical leaders’ emergence and support for EDI-led transformation could be fostered to benefit STEM fields, and more broadly.