Contact Professor Sue Vinnicombe,
- Tel: +44 (0) 1234 750111
- Email: s.m.vinnicombe@cranfield.ac.uk
Background
Susan has consulted for organisations in over twenty countries including the USA, Ireland, India, the UAE, Philippines, Trinidad, Nigeria, Australia and New Zealand, on how best to attract, retain and develop women executives. Susan is regularly interviewed by the press, on the radio and on television for her expert views on women directors and is a frequent keynote speaker at conferences.
Susan is the Founder and Chair of the judges for Women in the City Awards and is a judge for the Sunday Times best NEDs of the year awards. She is Vice Patron of the charity, Working Families. Susan was a member of the Davies Steering Committee from 2010 - 2015 and has been invited onto the Advisory Board of Sir Philip Hampton/Dame Helen Alexander's Review on the lack of women in the executive pipeline.
Susan was elected to Fellow of the British Academy of Management in 2013. She has been honoured by The International Alliance of Women (TIAW) in 2013 when she was awarded the TIAW World of Difference 100 Award 2013, which recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the economic empowerment of women. In 2016 she was made a Companion of the Chartered Institute of Management and honoured by the International Women's Forum (IWF) Washington as a women who has 'made a difference' in the world.
Susan was awarded an OBE for her Services to Diversity in the Queen's New Year's Honours List in 2005 and subsequently awarded a CBE for her Services to Gender Equality in the Queen's Birthday Honours, 2014.
Current activities
Susan's research interests focus on the lack of women in leadership, specifically on corporate boards; women's leadership styles and the issues involved in women developing their executive careers. Susan was Founder Director of the Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders from 1999 to 2016. She and her co-authors produce the annual Female FTSE Board Report, which she launched in 1999 and is regarded as the premier research resource on women directors in the UK and is renowned globally.
Susan has written ten books and over one hundred articles, reports and conference papers. Her latest book 'Handbook of Research on Promoting Women's Careers' (Eds. S Vinnicombe, R.J. Burke, S. Blake-Beard and L.L. Moore) was published by Edward Elgar in 2013.
Publications
Articles In Journals
- de Largy C, Anderson D & Vinnicombe S. (2024). Understanding practices which foster inclusion: views from the top. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print)
- Vinnicombe S & Mavin S. (2023). Reflections on women’s progress into leadership in the UK and suggested areas for future research. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 38(2)
- Michaelides A, Anderson D & Vinnicombe S. (2023). A qualitative exploration of managerial mothers' flexible careers: The role of multiple contexts. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 141(March)
- Debebe G, Anderson D, Bilimoria D & Vinnicombe SM. (2016). Women’s Leadership Development Programs. Journal of Management Education, 40(3)
- Doldor E & Vinnicombe S. (2015). Women’s pathways to the boardroom. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 30(7)
- Jonsdottir T, Singh V, Terjesen S & Vinnicombe S. (2015). Director identity in pre- and post-crisis Iceland: effects of board life stage and gender. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 30(7)
- Chen A, Doherty N & Vinnicombe S. (2012). The perceived value of networking through an EMBA: a study of Taiwanese women. Career Development International, 17(7)
- Vinnicombe S. (2011). Reflections on “Locks and keys to the boardroom”. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 26(3)
- Kumra S & Vinnicombe S. (2008). A Study of the Promotion to Partner Process in a Professional Services Firm: How Women are Disadvantaged. British Journal of Management, 19(s1)
Conference Papers
- Singh V, Jonsdottir T & Vinnicombe S. (2013). Directors' role identities in pre and post crisis Iceland: Board life cycle stage and gender
- Anderson D, Sealy R & Vinnicombe S. (2010). Diversity of Governing Bodies of Higher Education Institutions: Positive attitudes, negative practices?
- Doldor E, Sealy R & Vinnicombe S. (2010). Increasing gender diversity on public and private boards: obstacles and initiatives.
- Vinnicombe S & Anderson D. (2009). Personal reflections on the evolution of women's leadership programmes
- Herzfelt R, Chrobot-Mason D, Gentry B, Khapova S, Korotov K, .... (2008). Understanding career development of European women in Russia, Spain, UK and the Netherlands
- Sealy R, Vinnicombe S & Singh V. (2008). FTSE 350 Female directors and women in the executive committees
- Chen A & Vinnicombe S. (2008). Preparing for leadership in Taiwan: Identifying career benefits which women have gained from taking an MBA in mid-career
- Nelson D, Jaina J & Vinnicombe S. (2007). How do elected leaders and chief executives in UK local authorities construe the top job? Implications for future appointments
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2007). An exploratory study of executive committee demography in top companies: Another gendered layer revealed
- Anderson D, Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2007). Up and out: the exit of women partners from a global consultancy firm
- Anderson D, Vinnicombe S & Singh V. (2007). Women above the glass ceiling: Exploring why women partners leave
- Anderson D, Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2006). Women above the glass ceiling: Exit
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2006). Women on boards of directors: United Kingdom stakeholder collaboration strategies
- Singh V, Vinnicombe S & Kumra S. (2006). Women above the glass ceiling: Voice through womens corporate networks
- Vinnicombe S, Singh V & Anderson D. (2006). Exploring why women partners leave
- Vinnicombe S, Freeman C & Terjesen S. (2006). Attracting new graduates: Gender differences in importance of organisational attributes
- Chen A & Vinnicombe S. (2006). Preparing for leadership: Career benefits which women managers have acquired from doing an MBA in mid-career
- Singh V, Vinnicombe S & James K. (2006). Constructing a professional identity: how young female managers use role models
- Singh V, Anderson D & Vinnicombe S. (2006). Stepping out from gendered cultures: Fond farewells from successful women
- Singh V, Vinnicombe S & Terjesen S. (2005). Human capital and gender diversity in FTSE 100 board appointments
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2005). Corporate governance and gender diversity on top UK boards
- Chen A & Vinnicombe S. (2005). A cross-cultural study of female MBAs in the UK and Taiwan: What are the career benefits?
- Chen A & Vinnicombe S. (2005). A comparative study of the motivation to complete an MBA and career benefits to female MBAs in the UK and Taiwan
- Singh V, Vinnicombe S & Kumra S. (2005). Women making good connections through corporate networks - an exploratory study
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2005). Continuity and change within top UK boardrooms: From homogeneity to gender diversity
- Vinnicombe S. (2004). Women directors in the top 100 companies in the UK
- Vinnicombe S. (2004). The lack of women directors on top corporate boards in the UK
- Collins J, Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2004). Examining socially constructed leadership
- Collins J, Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2003). The rhetoric, discourse and meanings of leadership of public sector organisations in post-devolution Scotland
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2003). Women directors in the UK: empirical trends and theoretical connections
- Abdul-Ghani R, Harris H & Vinnicombe S. (2003). The influence of work-life balance on cross-cultural adjustment of international postgraduate students with family in the UK
- Collins J, Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2003). The leadership language in Scottish public service organisations
- Vinnicombe S & Singh V. (2003). Gender differences in managers' beliefs about prerequisite characteristics for leadership
- Wilson SP, Butler M, James K, Partington D, Singh V, .... (2003). The fallacy of integration: building boundaries between work and non-work within professional services
- Singh V, Vinnicombe S & Cames I. (2002). Women and Gendered Leadership Images
- Singh V, Schiuma G & Vinnicombe S. (2002). Assessing Diversity Management
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2002). Elites and Diversity: Women Directors in Top UK Companies
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2002). Women Directors: Swimming, Sinking or not even in the Pool?
- Freeman C & Vinnicombe S. (2002). Recruiting for gender diversity: exploring the relationship between organisational attractiveness and application intentions
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2002). The 2002 Female FTSE Report: Women Directors moving Forward
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2002). Top Companies without Women Directors: A Persistent and International Phenomenon
- Singh V, Bains D & Vinnicombe S. (2001). Informal Mentoring: Perceived Benefits to the Organisation
- Cames I, Vinnicombe S & Singh V. (2001). Profiles of “successful managers” held by male and female banking managers across Europe
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2000). Managing the promotion of high commitment through impression management strategies: A study of male and female managers
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2000). Gender and Impression Management Strategies: Managing the Good Impressions held by Others for Career Success
- Vinnicombe S & Singh V. (2000). Taking Stock: The Making of Women Managers
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (1999). If you've got it, flaunt it! Is Visibility through Impression Management the Key to Unlock Negative Perceptions of Women Managers' Commitment?
- Vinnicombe S. (1998). Networking in the Fire Service
- Vinnicombe S & Cames I. (1998). A Study of the Leadership Styles of Female and Male Bank Managers in 10 Different Nationality Banks in Luxembourg using the Personal Questionnaire
- Vinnicombe S & Sturges J. (1998). Personal Definitions of Career Success for Male and Female Managers
- Vinnicombe S. (1998). Constructing an Agenda for Women in Management
- Vinnicombe S. (1998). Issues Facing Women in Management and Winning Strategies for Overcoming Them
- Vinnicombe S & Sahdev K. (1998). Downsizing and its Impact on the HR Function
- Vinnicombe S. (1998). Women in Management
- Vinnicombe S & Sahdev S. (1997). A Study of the Survivor Syndrome
- Vinnicombe S & Lucas D. (1997). The Impact of Women's Only Training on the Development of Women Managers
- Vinnicombe S. (1996). The Style for the Next Century
Books
- Anderson DA & Vinnicombe S. (2015). Chapter 27: Senior women, work-life balance and the decision to quit: a generational perspective In Broadbridge AM & Fielden SL (eds), Handbook Of Gendered Careers In Management: Getting In, Getting On, Getting Out. Edward Elgar.
- Vinnicombe S(ed.). (2013). Handbook of Research on Promoting Women's Careers
- Vinnicombe S, Moore LL & Anderson D. (2013). Women’s leadership programmes are still important In Vinnicombe S, Burke RJ, Blake-Beard S & Moore LL (eds), Handbook of Research on Promoting Women’s Careers. Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Sealy R & Vinnicombe S. (2013). Women on boards in the UK: accelerating the pace of change? In Machold S, Huse M, Hansen K & Brogi M (eds), Getting Women on to Corporate Boards. Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Nicholson G, Kiel G & Tunny JA. (2012). Board Evaluations: Contemporary Thinking and Practice In Clarke T & Branson D (eds), The SAGE Handbook of Corporate Governance. SAGE Publications Ltd.
- Sealy R & Vinnicombe S. (2010). Women on top corporate boards: The slow progress and initiatives that provide change In Husu L, Hearn J, Lamsa A & Vanhala S (eds), Leadership through the gender lens: Women and men in organisations. Hanken School of Economics.
- Vinnicombe S, Singh V, Burke RJ, Bidlimoria D & Huse M (eds). (2008). Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: International Research and Practice
- Anderson D, Vinnicombe S & Singh V. (2008). Women only leadership development: A conundrum In Turnbull James K & Collins J (eds), Leadership Learning: Knowledge into Action. Palgrave Macmillan.
- Anderson D, Vinnicombe S & Singh V. (2008). Women becoming leaders In Turnbull James K & Collins J (eds), Leadership Learning: Knowledge into Action. Palgrave.
- Sealy R, Vinnicombe S & Singh V. (2008). The pipeline to the board finally opens: Women's progress on FTSE 100 boards in the UK In Susan V, Val S, Ron B, Diana B & Morten H (eds), Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: International Research and Practice. Edward Elgar.
- Singh V, Terjesen S & Vinnicombe S. (2007). Women advancing onto corporate boards In Bilimoria D & Piderit S (eds), Handbook On Women In Business And Management. Edward Elgar.
- Singh V, Vinnicombe S & Terjesen S. (2006). Women advancing onto corporate boards In Piderit S & Bilimoria D (eds), Handbook of Women's Careers. Edward Elgar.
- Singh V, Vinnicombe S & Terjesen S. (2006). Gender and corporate boards In Bilimoria D & Piderit S (eds), Handbook of Gender and Management. Edward Elgar.
- Singh V & Vinnicombe S. (2006). Opening the boardroom doors: FTSE 100 companies and women directors In McTavish D & Miller K (eds), Women in Leadership and Management: A European Perspective. Edward Elgar.
- Kakabadse A, Vinnicombe S & Bank J. (2004). Working in Organisations II (2nd edition)
- Vinnicombe S & Bank J. (2003). Women with attitude
- James K & Vinnicombe S. (2002). Acknowledging the Individual in the Researcher In Partington D(ed.), Essential Skills for Management Research. Sage Publications.
- Vinnicombe S & Singh V. (2002). Developing tomorrow's women business leaders In Burke R & Meyerson D (eds), Advancing Women in Corporate Management. Blackwells.
- Bank J, Vinnicombe S & Sahdev K. (2001). Creating a Resilient Workforce: the Upside to Downsizing
- James K & Vinnicombe S. (2001). Acknowledging the individual in the researcher In Partington D(ed.), Essential Skills for Management Research. Sage.
- Vinnicombe S. (2000). The Position of Women in Management in Europe In Davidson M & Burke R (eds), Women in Management: Current Research Issues Volume II. Sage.
- Vinnicombe S, Singh V & Sturges J. (2000). Making it to the Top in Britain In Burke R & Mattis M (eds), Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: International Challenges and Opportunities. Kluwer.
