Atlas University, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, faculty member. Dr. Ülfet Uzunkoca, Assistant Professor, held in Philadelphia, USA, between July 31 and August 4, 2026. Academy of Management (AOM) 86th Annual Meeting She participated in the program with a research presentation and a professional development workshop.
The Academy of Management Annual Meeting, one of the leading international scientific events in the field of management and organizational studies, will be held this year. “Bridging Divides. Building Connections.” With this theme, it brought together academics and researchers from different countries around the world.
Dr. Ülfet Uzunkoca, Assistant Professor, together with Prof. Dr. Duysal Aşkun Çelik, within the scope of the congress. “Cookie-cutter or tailor-made? Navigating the psychological tension that arises amidst neuroinclusion” The study, titled "Neuro-Inclusiveness," was presented using qualitative research methods. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 senior executives and human resources leaders from multinational organizations operating in various sectors across different countries, including Italy, Ireland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, and Poland. The research examined the tension between standardization and individual needs, a key dilemma organizations face in inclusively integrating neuro-diverse employees into the workplace. The study addressed how globally operating organizations balance the need to create standard and consistent practices with the need to respond to the diverse needs of their employees when implementing neuro-inclusiveness.
Uzunkoca and Çelik also, “Do You See What I See? From I to We: Closing the Consciousness Gap Through Appreciative Inquiry” They jointly designed and conducted the Professional Development Workshop (PDW) titled [Professional Development Workshop Title]. The workshop was designed based on Aşkun's concept of "consciousness gap," which refers to the distance that can exist between individuals in organizations in terms of perception, empathy, and mutual understanding. The workshop explored how to reduce this distance, which becomes more visible especially in situations involving pressure, identity threats, conflicting interests, and challenging workplace interactions, within the framework of the Appreciative Inquiry approach.
In this hands-on and interactive workshop, participants identified triggers that increase the "consciousness gap" based on their real-life and work experiences; they examined the relational space ("consciousness-between") that emerges in interpersonal interactions through appreciative and reflective dialogues and collaborative work. Participants also developed feasible micro-experiments to strengthen connection, empathy, and collaboration. Thus, the workshop addressed, both conceptually and experientially, how a shift from an individualistic "I" orientation to a more relational and conscious "We" understanding can be supported in working life.
This participation in the Academy of Management 2026 contributed to Atlas University's sharing of its academic work in the fields of psychology, organizational behavior, employee experience, and inclusion on international scientific platforms.
