yousafzais@cf.ac.uk
My CV
Excellence through empathy
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 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