Poster Presentation at British Academy of Management Conference

I recently had the opportunity to attend the British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference Doctoral Symposium, which took place in Nottingham on September 3rd, 2024. It was a significant milestone in my PhD journey, and I want to share some key experiences and reflections from the event.

The trip from Dublin to Nottingham turned out to be a pleasant surprise. On my flight, I ran into Dr. Kate McLoughlin, a friend and former classmate from my undergraduate days in IADT, Dublin. Kate is now an Assistant Professor in Management at University College Dublin. We spent much of our journey catching up and reflecting on our career paths—me just beginning my PhD, and her already well-established in academia. Kate, always generous with her time, provided some invaluable advice for my literature review. I even found myself scribbling notes in the back of a taxi at 11 PM, soaking up every piece of wisdom she shared!

Looking back, the conversation with Kate unknowingly set me up for some of the insightful and challenging questions I would face during my poster presentation at the symposium.

The Doctoral Symposium Experience

The Doctoral Symposium (DS) was a rich learning experience, consisting of plenary sessions, methodology clinics, and one-on-one opportunities to receive expert advice from senior academics in the BAM community. I took full advantage of the event app to map out my schedule, identifying the workshops I wanted to attend, the papers I was eager to hear about, and the people I hoped to connect with.

In a previous blog post, I mentioned my excitement about my poster being accepted to the conference—it was my very first one. Although I have given presentations before in my role at Walton Institute, I couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. I placed my poster and braced myself for questions. My peers didn’t disappoint, offering thoughtful inquiries that made me reflect more deeply on the broader scope of my research.

Then, the senior academics approached. Their questions and feedback were both challenging and encouraging, and I was thrilled to be part of the process. This exchange solidified for me that my research area is timely and relevant. Multiple people even asked if I would return next year to update them on how my research had progressed—an exciting prospect that I’m already looking forward to!

Key Takeaways: The Power of Structure in Research

One of the highlights of the symposium was attending a workshop led by Professor David Denyer titled “Conducting a Literature Review.” This workshop came at the perfect time, as I’ve been dedicating the past few months to crafting my own literature review. I had numerous meetings with my supervisors, consultations with the library, and attended workshops, however I continued to struggle to gain a solid grasp on the process.

Prof. Denyer’s session was a game-changer. He laid out a clear 13-step process for conducting a literature review. As a project manager by training, I deeply appreciate structured approaches, and his method resonated with me instantly. I'm currently on step 3 of this process and plan to follow it diligently in the coming months to stay on track.

Looking Ahead

Reflecting on my experience at the BAM Doctoral Symposium, I feel more motivated and equipped than ever. Not only did I gain valuable insights into my research and literature review process, but I also had the opportunity to connect with academics who are genuinely interested in my work. The conference was an important step in my PhD journey, and I’m eager to continue building on the feedback and knowledge I gained.

To anyone embarking on a PhD or attending their first academic conference, I can’t stress enough the importance of engaging with your peers, taking advantage of expert feedback, and embracing structure in your research processes. This experience has left me excited for the future, and I’m already looking forward to sharing my progress at next year’s conference!

Stay tuned for more updates on my PhD journey as I continue to refine my research and literature review.