Leuphana Graduate School welcomes Dr Nora Lohmeyer as Visiting Fellow in the winter semester
2025-10-01 Dr Nora Lohmeyer is assistant professor for Organisational Design and Development at Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University, Netherlands. Her research lies at the intersection of business and society, with a strong focus on the politics and governance of corporate responsibility, particularly in relation to human and labour rights in global supply chains. She views corporate responsibility as a multi-level phenomenon that extends beyond individual organizations, involving diverse actors at industry, national, and international levels. Dr Lohmeyer received her PhD from Freie Universität Berlin and was visiting researcher at Waseda University Tokyo, Johannes Kepler University Linz, and the Copenhagen Business School. She holds various distinctions and awards.
Your research focuses global supply chains. Do you recognize changes in the governance of social issues in supply chains?
Dr Lohmeyer: Oh yes, and very exciting ones! For decades, social issues such as human rights and labour standards in global supply chains were subject to private, voluntary governance. Recently, however, we have seen a profound shift in the governance of human rights in global supply chains. For example, mandatory human rights due diligence laws have been adopted in countries such as France, Norway, and Germany, as well as at the European level. Companies in these countries are now legally required to identify, prevent, limit, and remedy human rights violations among their suppliers, and to publicly report on these efforts. Noncompliance can lead to severe consequences, such as legal or financial penalties, exclusion from public tenders, or even civil liability. Although these laws remain contested and are subject to significant backlash from conservative parties and industry groups, their introduction marks a significant transformation. They require substantial changes from all parties involved in global supply chains and are likely to have a profound impact on the social relations between them.
Global supply chains play a role in various products of our daily lives. Will the role of consumers in making deliberate consumption decisions change with the emergence of these laws?
Dr Lohmeyer: The role of consumers is often discussed in relation to encouraging companies to produce more responsibly. However, I have always been slightly cautious about consumers' ability to influence corporate conduct through their buying decisions. Of course, we should all buy less and support eco-fair brands. However, it is very difficult for most consumers to judge which firms produce more responsibly than others. Therefore, I think we should not put the onus on consumers. Instead, we should view individuals as political agents who can influence company behaviour by voting for political parties that support corporate regulation. Such regulations would require all firms to act more responsibly, rather than relying on the market.
As an international scholar you worked at various universities. What can German doctoral education learn from other countries?
Dr Lohmeyer: I see a lot of value in structured training programmes for doctoral students, such as the one offered at the Leuphana Graduate School. While these are quite common in the UK and the Netherlands, they are not yet widespread in German universities. By offering PhD researchers a broad range of content-related courses as well as opportunities for skill development, ranging from time management to understanding what it means to be an academic, we can enrich their learning journey. Additionally, these programmes provide a valuable opportunity to meet like-minded peers. Having a great group of friends to let off steam with, and who can support each other through the more difficult times of a doctorate, is so important as well!
What are you most looking forward to while working with Leuphana’s doctoral candidates?
Dr Lohmeyer: I have heard that Leuphana's doctoral candidates are highly motivated and actively engage in class discussions. I am looking forward to this! My course will provide ample opportunity for discussion, practical training and reflection. I am particularly looking forward to hearing about the qualitative work and ideas on theorising and publishing of the doctoral researchers.