yousafzais@cf.ac.uk
Supervision
Supervision of PhD students is a special and important part of my academic career. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work, both intellectually and in terms of forming relationships with researchers who become friends and colleagues in the broader research communities of which I am part.
My Students
I have successfully supervised eight post-docs and 15 PhD students to completion. I have a reputation of a trusted and gentle supervisor who is genuinely interested in the well-being, mentoring and development of junior colleagues and PhD students. My PhD students have enjoyed scholarly acclaim through winning EDAMBA Competition, ESRC scholarships, publications and securing academic positions. I have also served as the Deputy Director of the PhD Program at Cardiff Business School.

Supervision of PhD students is a special and important part of my academic career. It is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work, both intellectually and in terms of forming relationships with researchers who become friends and colleagues in the broader research communities of which I am part. I take immense pride and joy in investing my time in mentoring and empowering the future generation of researchers.

PhD supervision has, at times, been both inspirational and generative of my own research ideas and projects. The diversity of the students I have supervised, the intellectual learning I have acquired through working with them on a range of different topics, and the different demands they have placed on me have all made me a better supervisor. I have supervised mature students, students with disabilities, overseas students and students who have become parents in the course of their research, and all have challenged and inspired me in different ways.


A PhD journey for a doctoral student can be arduous, academically and mentally.
My supervision philosophy has evolved with time and experience and is underpinned by the ethos of respect and care. A PhD journey for a doctoral student can be arduous, academically and mentally. A good supervisor would know that supporting her students’ wellbeing is fundamental to helping them achieve academic excellence. I have seen it happening too often that academic supervisors forget that students are managing multiple priorities and workloads and they need empathy as much as they need expert guidance and supervision.
During my academic career, I have had the chance to supervise students who were going through difficult personal circumstances and struggling to continue with their research. In those situations, my priority was to focus on their wellbeing first, and attempt to consider their individual situation and devise a strategy that will support them through their difficulties while keeping them positively disposed to their research.


Most importantly, I take pride in being a role model for and empowering female researchers in management. You can’t be what you can’t see! When they see me as a successful academic and being a mother of four young children at the same time, they know that they can do it too. It has been a pleasure for me to play a part in their PhD journey and subsequent academic careers
Doctoral Supervision of My Students
all at Cardiff University
Dr. Wojdan Omran-Farraj
Women’s Entrepreneurship Eco-System
2017-2023
Wojdan Omran is currently a PhD research student at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, UK. Her doctoral thesis topic explores the epistemic injustices endured by internally displaced Palestinian women entrepreneurs situated in city and refugee camp environments in the West Bank. Based on her work thus far, she has presented her work at several conferences and co-hosted an online seminar. Bridging academic work to the mainstream and representing a Palestinian perspective, Wojdan also contributed to a documentary film on women’s entrepreneurship which premiered at Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) UK in 2020. Prior to starting her PhD studies, Wojdan's professional experience has been heavily based in academia as a lecturer of management at Birzeit University in Palestine where she also served the administration, most notably as director of the Alumni and Career Services Office. Her published work to date includes topics on organizational processes, gender and entrepreneurship with particular emphasis on marginalized groups. Wojdan is currently working with Nazarbayev University’s Research Centre for Entrepreneurship (NURCE) at the Graduate School of Business (GSB), which aims to advance transformative social value and impact through entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan. Wojdan has also contributed to an integral aspect of this endeavour with a research team exploring the role of women entrepreneurs in community-based tourism across Kyrgyzstan
Dr. Mohammad Sameer Ahmed Alasdi
Corporate Entrepreneurship
2017-2023
Mohammad Alasadi is a lecturer at Taibah University, Saudi Arabia and a PhD candidate in his final year within the Marketing and Strategy Section at Cardiff University, United Kingdome. His research, sponsored by the Saudi Ministry of Education, is in the field of Corporate Entrepreneurship. More precisely, focusing on the role of employees and institutions in promoting Corporate Entrepreneurship. He holds a Diploma in Commerce and Bachelor of Management from Griffith University, a Master of Business in the Field of Entrepreneurship from The University of Queensland, Australia, and a Master of Science in Social Science Research Methods from Cardiff University. Before his undregradute degree, he worked as a sales agent for Saudia Airlines. Since completing his Master of Business in Entrepreneurship, he gained some working experience in academia as a lecturer in the Management division, Assistant Vice-Dean, and Deputy supervisor of the distance education unit for academic affairs at the College of Business Administration. He also worked as a Quality Assurance Consultant.
Dr. Savira Miranti Ansori
Consumer Behaviour
Dr Savira Miranti Ansory is a Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia. She graduated with a degree in Marketing Management and obtained a Master of Marketing Management from Universitas Indonesia. She attained an MSc in Social Science Research Methods and a PhD in Marketing & Strategy from Cardiff University, UK. She worked in several companies within the industry of FMCG, public relations and media planning before her career in academia. Her primary research interests focused on Muslim consumer behaviour and the interplay of consumer self-related aspects and consumption.
DOCTORAL SUPERVISION (all at Cardiff University)

2024 – Dr. Alvina Gillani, Surrey University, UK

2024 – Dr. Simrit Kaurla, Kingston University, UK

2022–23 – Dr. Alexander Parkyn-Smith, Durham University, UK

2023–24 – Dr. Nurlykhan Aljanova, Alfarabi University, Kazakhstan

2023–24 – Dr. Indira Alibayeva, University of Zurich, Switzerland

2022 – Dr. Vahid Makizadeh, University of Hormozgan, Iran

2022 – Dr. Juan Diego Borrero, Universidad de Huelva, Spain

2022 – Dr. Shandana Sheikh, Cardiff University, UK

2018 – Dr. Vahid Makizadeh, University of Hormozgan, Iran

2017 – Dr. Zhirong Duan, Assistant Professor, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China

2017 – Dr. Musarrat Jabeen, Associate Professor, National Defence University, Pakistan

2016 – Dr. Federica Sist, Assistant Professor, LUMSA University, Italy (Erasmus Plus)

2013 – Dr. Grace Khoury, Associate Professor, Birzeit University, West Bank, Palestine

2015 – Dr. Aybeniz Akdeniz, Assistant Professor, Balıkesir University, Turkey (Newton Fund)

2011 – Dr. Juan Diego Borrero, Universidad de Huelva, Spain

2010 – Dr. Rocio Arteaga Sanchez, Universidad de Huelva, Spain

POST-DOCTORAL SUPERVISION / VISITORS HOSTED

2018–2023 – Dr. Wojdan Omran – Women’s Entrepreneurship Eco-System, Lecturer, Queens College


2018–2023 – Dr. Mohammad Sameer Ahmed Alasdi – Corporate Entrepreneurship, Assistant Professor, Taybah University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia


2018–2022 – Dr. Savira Miranti Ansori – Consumer Behaviour, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Cardiff University


2018–2022 – Dr. Renuka Vyas – Entrepreneurship Opportunities for the Rural Women in India, Post-Doctoral Researcher, Cardiff University


2016–2020 – Dr. Shandana Sheikh – Value Creation through Women Entrepreneurship


2014–2018 – Dr. Adam Poole – Trust in Financial Decisions (ESRC funded), Senior Lecturer at University of West England, UK


2010–2014 – Dr. Ibrahim Alhaidari – Monetary Donation Behaviour, Assistant Professor, Imam Mohammed University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia


2010–2014 – Dr. Nuradli Shah Bin Mohd – Islamic Credit Cards Customer Satisfaction, Associate Professor at University Sains Islam, Malaysia


2011–2016 – Dr. Suhaer Younas – Work and life balance and employee well-being, Lecturer, University of Lincoln, UK


2006–2011 – Dr. Juwailah Sharifuddin – Halal Food Labelling, Associate Professor at University Putra, Malaysia


2006–2011 – Dr. Syadiyah Abdul Shukor – Fashion Branded Clothing, Associate Professor at University Sains Islam, Malaysia