Joining LOST as an external PhD candidate

Would you like to introduce yourself and your work briefly?

My name is Stephanie Heitmann, and I recently completed my PhD in Management and Organization Studies at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. My doctoral research focuses on the performative dimension of agile organizing, examining how agile organizing is put into practice through communication, process and socio-material practices.

My PhD was funded by the Graduate Program “The Economic Impact of Digital Transformation” at Jena University. I was supervised by Professor Stefan Strohschneider at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, and my second supervisor was Professor Boukje Cnossen from Leuphana University.

What brought you to LOST?

I first became aware of LOST through my second supervisor, Boukje Cnossen, who connected me to the network’s events and members. The community immediately resonated with me because of its strong focus on Management and Organization Studies and its vibrant scholarly exchange.

As an external PhD candidate, I was particularly looking for an academic community beyond my home institution - one that would allow me to engage with peers and senior scholars working on related topics. LOST offered exactly that: An intellectually stimulating, open, and welcoming research environment.

In what kinds of LOST activities did you participate during your PhD journey?

During my PhD, I participated in various LOST activities, including workshops, R&R sessions, writing days, and informal gatherings such as EGOS x LOST dinners. These formats provided valuable opportunities to present my work, receive critical and constructive feedback, and engage with current debates in organization studies.

The atmosphere was consistently open, supportive, and intellectually demanding. Discussions were rigorous yet collegial. This combination of high academic standards and friendly exchange allowed me to refine my arguments, sharpen my theoretical positioning, and further develop my research.

What do you value the most about being a part of LOST?

What I value most is the constructive and genuinely peer-oriented atmosphere. LOST brings together scholars not only from Leuphana but from multiple universities, creating a vibrant and diverse academic network.

As a doctoral student, it can sometimes feel intimidating to approach more senior scholars. Within LOST, however, exchange across career stages felt natural and encouraged. The opportunity to receive feedback from advanced scholars and to learn from different perspectives was truly invaluable.

I was also extremely fortunate to be supervised by Boukje. She supported me throughout my doctoral journey with exceptional care, intellectual sharpness, and a consistently high quality standard. I learned tremendously from her, not only in terms of theoretical rigor and analytical precision, but also regarding what it means to pursue research with integrity and ambition. The high quality expectations within the LOST community as a whole deeply shaped my academic development.

Now that you have finished your PhD, do you plan on further participating in LOST activities?

Absolutely. Staying connected to the LOST network is very important to me. Academic work thrives on dialogue, and LOST offers a space for precisely that kind of sustained and meaningful exchange. I very much look forward to continuing to engage with the community in the future.