Companies as Drivers of Sustainability Transformations
It is widely recognized that companies and entrepreneurship play a key role in the sustainability transformation of markets and thus of society. Companies cause environmental and social problems, but they can also drive sustainability transformation beyond their organizational boundaries. Researchers at Leuphana are investigating the positive impact organizations can have on a sustainable society. Their research focuses on how companies can successfully contribute to sustainable consumption and lifestyles, business relationships, social developments, and environmental change.
Spokespersons: Prof. Dr. Michael Gielnik, Prof. Dr. Monika Imschloß, Prof. Dr. Stefan Schaltegger and Prof. Dr. Roman Trötschel
| Field of Research | Description | Potential Supervisor |
| Transforming communities through sustainability entrepreneurship | This PhD project uses evidence-based interventions to investigate the incubating and scaling of sustainability entrepreneurship and its effect on transforming the business environment. It researches the link between sustainability entrepreneurship and place-based socio-ecological transformations as well as entrepreneurs’ active engagement in response to adverse events and their contribution to the resilience of socio-economic systems. It applies a mixed-method approach including quantitative and qualitative methods. | Steffen Farny, Michael Gielnik, Elke Schüßler |
| Companies as Drivers of Sustainability Transformation: The Role of Psychology in Transformative Decision-Making | This project examines how companies can act as drivers of sustainability transformations through joint and interactive decision-making among organisational stakeholders. It focuses on how psychological states—particularly sustainability mindsets—influence key aspects of decision-making processes. These include the assessment of the attainability and desirability of sustainability goals, the evaluation of necessary trade-offs to achieve these goals, and the mental contrasting of internal versus external costs and benefits. Particular attention is given to how such decision dynamics unfold under challenging conditions, including economic, socio-political, or environmental crises and the associated conflicts of interest. Methodologically, the project employs surveys, vignette experiments, and negotiation simulations to trace how sustainability-oriented decisions are formed, negotiated, and implemented within companies. | Roman Trötschel, Ulf Hahnel, Stefan Schaltegger |
| Transforming markets through radical organizational distinctiveness | This PhD project examines how organizations can drive sustainability transformations by becoming radically distinct from prevailing market norms. It explores why and how some organizations choose to dismantle their own successful yet unsustainable business models to lead broader market shifts toward sustainability. Drawing on theories from strategic management, innovation, and organization studies, the project investigates the mechanisms that enable organizations to maintain legitimacy while radically differentiating themselves. Methodologically, the project draws on qualitative research methods, such as in-depth case studies and/or comparative case studies. | Stefanie Habersang, Stefan Schaltegger |
| Transforming offerings through developing sustainable consumption practices | This PhD project analyses how companies can foster sustainable consumption practices among consumers. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the role of business models such as repair, refill or access-based consumption. These business models require understanding how consumption practices change and how new practices spread. The project may draw on various psychological, economic, or sustainability science concepts to examine how sustainable routines are shaped and how new sustainable practices diffuse. A quantitative methodological approach of the project is expected, which explores barriers, enabling conditions, and strategies to foster the adoption of sustainable consumption practices. | Maureen Schulze, Jacob Hörisch |
| Reconfiguring Stakeholder Relations for Sustainable Transformation in Times of Polarization and Politicization | This PhD project focuses on the increasing politicization of stakeholder relations. As companies increasingly take positions on political issues (should and must), this also means that stakeholder relationships need to be re-evaluated. The research project is based on the concept of "political responsibility" of companies and Corporate sociopolitical activism (CSA), i.e. the phenomenon that companies increasingly engage in political discourses and position themselves publicly in political debates (should/must). Based on qualitative research methods, it is expected that the project develops a typology of stakeholder communication strategies in politicized and polarized contexts using multiple case studies. For the analysis of the content of the communication strategy types, a corresponding discourse analysis is expected to be applied on the communication of various companies. | Hannah Trittin-Ulbrich, Stefanie Habersang, Elke Schüßler |
| Transforming the business environment through stakeholder relationships | This PhD fellowship offers an opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research at the intersection of stakeholder theory and sustainability management. It analyses how stakeholder theory mindsets of managers enable transforming the business environment. To do so, this project will use quantitative research methods to explore whether managers with a stronger stakeholder theory mindset contribute to sustainability transformations in organizations and industries. By advancing our understanding of stakeholder theory mindsets, this research aims to provide actionable insights for business leaders and policymakers seeking to foster sustainability transformations. The findings will contribute to the academic discourse on stakeholder theory and provide empirical evidence on its practical implications for sustainable business practices. | Jacob Hörisch, Stefan Schaltegger |
Application Process
| Deadline | Applicants submit all required documents no later than | 01.10.2025 |
| Interviews | Applicants are requested to save the date | 10.-21.11.2025 |
| Notification | Successful applicants will receive notification as of | 24.11.2025 |
| Acceptance | Successful applicants accept the awarded PhD positions no later than | 05.12.2025 |
| Doctoral studies application | Successful scholarship applicants submit their online application for enrollment in Leuphana's doctoral studies no later than | 31.12.2025 |
| Matriculation | Participants are required to matriculate at Leuphana no later than | 01.04.2026 |
| Opening Event | The new PhD researchers are welcomed at Leuphana Graduate School | 02.-03.04.2026 |