Current employment and workplace

Postdoctoral Researcher at Ruhr University Bochum, at the Chair for Entrepreneurship and Innovative Business Models.

How did I become interested in my field of research?

To be honest, I became interested in this field already during my bachelor’s degree, when I learned that economics is essentially the system we use to manage resources in society. As we face massive environmental destruction and inequality, we seem to be doing a terrible job in shaping our system appropriately.

I realized that the very discipline I was studying played a key role in creating these problems, and had the potential to help solve them. Over time, I became particularly interested in the role of intermediaries, organizations that support others on their sustainability journey.

I’ve always believed that sustainability is a shared responsibility and shouldn't be pushed back and forth between individuals, companies, or governments. We all have a role to play, and intermediaries can help bring those efforts together. 

What am I most passionate about in my work?

I especially enjoy hearing new perspectives from people with different backgrounds and disciplines, learning from them, and challenging my own assumptions. I like to rethink things I once took for granted, and to pass on what I’ve learned to the next generation of students.

In the long term, what impact can my research have on society?

Of course, my work gives concrete guidance, for example, on what kinds of competences, activities, and coordination structures are needed to support business model sustainability and regional collaboration in industrial ecosystems. But more broadly, my hope is that this research contributes to structural change: not just by informing new policies, but by shifting how we view the role of economic actors in society.

Sustainability should not be something businesses pursue only because of external pressure or market advantage. Ideally, it becomes so embedded in our norms, expectations, and institutional structures that it’s simply how we operate. 

What made the strongest impression on you during my PhD defense?

Bring your perspective into your work and into the spaces you move through, it will enrich both.

What piece of advice would you offer current PhD fellows who want a career outside academia?

Trust that the skills you’re building (critical thinking, structuring complex issues, working independently, holding your ground with “reviewer 2” personalities) are valuable. And don’t wait until the end of your PhD to engage with the world outside of university.

Be curious, have conversations, and take opportunities that align with your values and interests, even if they do not directly “count” in terms of traditional academic metrics of success and PhD requirements. In the long run, it might be these side paths that shape both your perspective and your future direction.

A little bit about the person behind the researcher?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, being out in nature, and experimenting with new garden projects, despite my not-so-green thumb. I also like putting my experiences and skills to good use beyond academia. I care about animal rights and have been actively involved in the movement toward a plant-based food transition.

Linkedin - Leonie Schlüther

Ruhr University Bochum - Leonie Schlüter