An expert in how leadership development can transform individuals, groups, and organizations, Diana Bilimoria, PhD, is KeyBank Professor, chair and professor of organizational behavior. Bilimoria’s research focuses on gender and diversity in governance and leadership and organizational transformation. Her studies have helped corporate, educational and nonprofit organizations reinvent themselves and establish practices that attract and retain a high-performance, diverse workforce. Questions she studies include: How do individuals achieve their fullest potential as leaders and contributors in organizations? What facilitates women and minority group members becoming full participants in organizations, top management teams and boardrooms? How can workplaces tap into all the capabilities of leadership and diversity?
She is a co-author of several books including Women in STEM Careers: International Perspectives on Increasing Workforce Participation, Advancement and Leadership; Gender Equity in Science and Engineering: Advancing Change in Higher Education; Handbook On Women in Business and Management; and Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: International Research and Practice.
Bilimoria was the 2011-12 chair of the Gender and Diversity in Organizations Division of the Academy of Management. She has published extensively in leading journals, has contributed to several edited volumes and has received multiple research grants. She has served as the editor of the Journal of Management Education and sits on the editorial boards of several journals in the business and management field.
Her teaching and executive education activities focus on executive leadership and gender and diversity and inclusion in organizations. She has served as an organizational consultant and management educator for private, public and nonprofit organizations and as an advisor and coach for executives, focusing on the areas of leadership development, gender and diversity in organizations, board effectiveness and institutional transformation.
In 2014, Bilimoria received the Weatherhead School of Management Teaching Excellence Award. Other awards include the Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio’s Woman of Distinction Award, ATHENA award finalist from Cleveland, the Excellence in Higher Education Leadership Award from the ACE Ohio Women’s Network, the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women’s Spotlight Series Prize for Women’s Scholarship at ǿմý, and the Weatherhead Doctoral Teaching Excellence Award. She has been recognized internationally for her scholarship, leadership and service, including the 1999 Anbar Golden Page Award for her editorship of the Journal of Management Education and several Academy of Management Conference awards.
Bilimoria received her PhD from The University of Michigan and an MMS from University of Bombay. She teaches courses in leadership, gender, diversity and inclusion in organization, and emotional intelligence.
Initially Appointed: 1989
Teaching Information
Teaching Interests
- Leadership
- Gender
- Diversity and Inclusion in Organizations
- Emotional Intelligence
Courses Taught
Office Hours
By Appointment Only
Research Information
Research Interests
- Gender diversity, equity, and inclusion in governance and leadership
- Transformation of higher education institutions
Research Projects
Dr. Bilimoria’s research focuses on gender and diversity in governance and leadership, and organizational transformation. Her studies have helped corporate, educational, and nonprofit organizations reinvent themselves and establish practices that attract and retain a high-performance, diverse workforce. Topics she studies include: How do individuals achieve their fullest potential as leaders and contributors in organizations? What facilitates women and minority group members to become full participants in organizations, top management teams, and boardrooms? How can workplaces tap into all the capabilities of leadership and diversity?
Awards and Honors
External Appointments
- Committee Member, Faculty Affiliates Council, Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence, 2019 - 2020
- Committee Member, Faculty Affiliates Council, Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence, 2018 - 2019
- Officer, President/Elect/Past, Academy of Management, GDO Division, 2011 - 2012
- Committee Chair, PhD Admissions Committee, 2010
- Program Organizer, Academy of Management, GDO Division, 2009 - 2010
- Committee Member, Advisory Committee, University Center for Innovation in Teaching and Education , 2008 - 2011
- Committee Member, Appointments Committee, 2004 - 2016
- Committee Member, Steering Committee of the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women, 2003 - 2013
- Committee Member, Program Faculty, Mandel Center for Nonprofit Organizations, 1993 - 2012
Publications
- Sugiyama, K. , Jané, S. E., Bilimoria, D.
Doing More Harm than Good: Communicating the Gender Confidence Gap. - Sugiyama, K. , Ladge, J. , Bilimoria, D. (2022).
Calling Oneself and Others In: Brokering Identities in Diversity Training Academy of Management Journal - Erskine, S. E., Bilimoria, D. (2019).
White Allyship of Afro-Diasporic Women in the Workplace: A Transformative Strategy for Organizational Change (vol. 26, issue 3, pp. 319-338) Journal of Leadership and Organization Studies - McLaughlin, H. , Sylvester, J. , Bilimoria, D. , Jané, S. E., Sealy, R. , Peters, K. , Möltner, H. , Huse, M. , Göke, J. (2018).
Women in Power: Contributing Factors that Impact on Women in Organizations and Politics: Psychological Research and Best Practice. Organizational Dynamics - Jané, S. E., van Esch, C. , Bilimoria, D. (2018).
“Why’d You Wanna Study That?” A Process Model of the Under-Legitimation of a Research Topic (vol. 17, issue 4, pp. 401-424) Academy of Management Learning & Education - van Esch, C. , Assylkhan, K. , Bilimoria, D. (2017). In Madsen, S.R. (Ed.)
Using Organizational and Management Science Theories to Understand Women and Leadership (pp. 127-144) Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar Publishing - Van Oosten, E. B., Buse, K. R., Bilimoria, D. (2017). In Radha Sharma (Ed.)
The Leadership Lab for Women: Advancing and Retaining Women in STEM through Professional Development (vol. 8, issue 2138, pp. Article 2138) Frontiers in Psychology - Manisaligil, A. , Bilimoria, D. (2016).
Taking Your Talents to Business Communications: Analyzing Effective Communication through LeBron James’ Career Moves (vol. 40, issue 6, pp. 769– 793) Journal of Management Education - Sugiyama, K. , Cavanagh, K. V., van Esch, C. , Bilimoria, D. , Brown, C. (2016).
Inclusive Leadership Development: Drawing From Pedagogies of Women’s and General Leadership Development Programs (vol. 40, issue 3, pp. 253-292) Journal of Management Education - Buse, K. , Bernstein, R. , Bilimoria, D. (2016).
The Influence of Board Diversity, Board Inclusion Policies and Practices, and Board Inclusion Behaviors on Effective Nonprofit Governance Practices (vol. 133, issue 1, pp. 179-191) Journal of Business Ethics - Hodigere Balasubramanya, R. , Bilimoria, D. (2015).
Human Capital and Professional Network Effects on Women’s (and Men’s) Odds of Corporate Board Directorships (vol. 30, issue 7, pp. 523-550) Gender in Management: An International Journal - O'Neil, D. A., Hopkins, M. M., Bilimoria, D. (2015).
A Framework for Developing Women Leaders: Applications to Executive Coaching (vol. 5, issue 2, pp. 253-276) Journal of Applied Behavioral Science - Buse, K. , Bilimoria, D. (2014).
Personal Vision: Enhancing Work Engagement and the Retention of Women in the Engineering Profession (vol. 5, pp. 1-13) Frontiers in Psychology - Buse, K. R., Bilimoria, D. (2014). In Diana Bilimoria and Linley Lord (Ed.)
Women Persisting in the Engineering Profession: The Role of the Ideal Self and Engagement (pp. 16-38) Northampton MA / London, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing - Bilimoria, D. , Lord, L. (2014). In Diana Bilimoria and Linley Lord (Ed.)
Women in STEM Careers: International Perspectives on Increasing Workforce Participation, Advancement and Leadership Northampton, MA / London, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing - O'Neil, D. A., Hopkins, M. M., Bilimoria, D. (2013). In Wendy Patton (Ed.)
Patterns and Paradoxes in Women’s Careers (pp. 63-80) Rotterdam: Sense Publishers - Bernstein, R. S., Bilimoria, D. (2013).
Diversity Perspectives and Minority Nonprofit Board Member Inclusion (vol. 32, issue 7, pp. 636-653) Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: An International Journal - Overbeke, K. K., Bilimoria, D. , Perelli, S. (2013).
The Dearth of Daughter Successors in Family Businesses: Gendered Norms, Blindness to Possibility, and Invisibility (vol. 4, pp. 201-212) Journal of Family Business Strategy - Bilimoria, D. , Liang, X. f., Carter, S. , Turrell, J. (2013). In Ronald Burke, Susan Vinnicombe, Lynda Moore, & Stacey Blake Beard (Ed.)
Faculty at Early, Middle, and Late Career Stages: Gender Effects (pp. 304-325) North Hampton, MA: Edward Elgar - Buse, K. R., Bilimoria, D. , Perelli, S. (2013).
Why They Stay: Women Persisting in US Engineering Careers (vol. 18, issue 2, pp. 139-154) Career Development International - Smith, M. L., Bilimoria, D. (2012).
The Heart of Leadership: How Leaders Engage with Emotional Intelligence (vol. 29, issue 3, pp. 5) Leadership Excellence - Bilimoria, D. (2012).
Inclusive Leadership (vol. 29, issue 3, pp. 13) Leadership Excellence - Bilimoria, D. , Liang, X. (2012).
Gender Equity in Science and Engineering: Advancing Change in Higher Education New York: Routledge - Bilimoria, D. , Buch, K. (2010).
The Search is on: Engendering Faculty Diversity through More Effective Search and Recruitment (issue July/August, pp. 27-32) Change - O'Neil, D. A., Hopkins, M. M., Bilimoria, D. (2009).
Developing Women Athletes: Insights from Business and Management (vol. 1, pp. 73-96) Annual Review of High Performance Coaching and Consulting - O'Neil, D. A., Hopkins, M. M., Bilimoria, D. (2008).
Women’s Careers at the Start of the 21st Century: Patterns and Paradoxes (vol. 80, issue 4, pp. 727-743) Journal of Business Ethics - Bilimoria, D. , Joy, S. , Liang, X. (2008).
Breaking Barries and Creating Inclusiveness: Lessons of Organizational Transformation to Advance Women Faculty in Academic Science and Engineering (vol. 47, issue 3, pp. 423-441) Human Resources Management - Hopkins, M. M., Bilimoria, D. (2008).
Social and Emotional Competencies Predicting Success for Male and Female Executives (vol. 27, issue 1, pp. 13-35) Journal of Management Development - Hopkins, M. M., O'Neil, D. A., Passarelli, A. , Bilimoria, D. (2008).
Women's Leadership Development: Strategies for Women and Organizations (vol. 60, issue 4, pp. 348-365) Consulting Psychology Journal: Research and Practice - McInerney-Lacombe, N. , Bilimoria, D. , Salipante, P. F. (2008). In S. Vinnicombe, V. Singh, R.J. Burke, D. Bilimoria, M.Huse (Ed.)
Championing the Discussion of Tough Issues: How Women Corporate Directors Contribute to Board Deliberations (pp. 123-139) Northhampton, MA: Edward Elgar - Bilimoria, D. (2008). In Vinnicombe, S., Singh, V., Burke, R. J., Bilimoria, D. & Huse, M. (Ed.)
Directions for Future Research on Women on Corporate Boards of Directors (pp. 233-240) Northhampton, MA: Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: Research and Practice - Vinnicombe, S. , Singh, V. , Burke, R. J., Bilimoria, D. , Huse, M. (2008).
Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: International Research and Practice Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar - Bilimoria, D. , Piderit, S. K. (2007).
Handbook on Women in Business and Management Northhampton, MA: Edward Elgar - Bilimoria, D. , Hopkins, M. M., O'Neil, D. A., Perry, S. (2007). In Stewart, Abigail J.; Malley, Janet; LaVaque-Manty, Danielle (Ed.)
Executive Coaching: An Effective Strategy for Faculty Development (pp. 187-203) Ann Arbor, Michigan: Transforming Science and Engineering: Advancing Academic Women, University of Michigan Press - Zandee, D. P., Bilimoria, D. (2007).
Institutional Transformation Through Positive Textual Deviance (vol. 27, issue 11/12, pp. 469-482) International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy - Bilimoria, D. , Godwin, L. , Zelechowski, D. D. (2007). In Bilimoria, Diana; Piderit, Sandy Kristin (Ed.)
Influence and Inclusion: A Framework for Researching Womens Advancement to the Top of Organizations (pp. 232-253) Northhampton, MA: Handbook on Women in Business and Management, Edward Elgar Publications - Boyatzis, R. E., Bilimoria, D. , Godwin, L. , Hopkins, M. M., Lingham, A. (2006). In Yuval Neria, Raz Cross, Randall Marshall and Ezra Susser (Ed.)
Effective Leadership in Extreme Crisis (pp. Chapter 13, 197-214) NY: Mental Health in the Wake of Terrorist Attacks, Cambridge University Press - Bilimoria, D. , Perry, S. , Liang, X. , Higgins, P. , Stoller, E. , Taylor, C. (2006).
How do Female and Male Faculty Members Construct Job Satisfaction? The Roles of Perceived Institutional Leadership and Mentoring and their Mediating Processes (vol. 32, issue 3, pp. 355-365) Journal of Technology Transfer - Hopkins, M. M., O'Neil, D. A., Bilimoria, D. (2006).
Effective Leadership and Successful Career Advancement: Perspectives from Women in Health Care (vol. 25, issue 4, pp. 251-271) Equal Opportunities International - Zelechowski, D. D., Bilimoria, D. (2006).
Characteristics of CEOs and Boards with Women Inside Directors (vol. 2, issue 2, pp. 14-21) Corporate Board: Roles Duties and Composition - Boyatzis, R. E., Bilimoria, D. , Godwin, L. , Hopkins, M. , Lingham, T. (2006). In R. Gross, Y. Neria, R. Marshall, and E. Susser (Ed.)
Mental Health in the Wake of Terrorist Attacks: Effective leadership in extreme crisis (pp. 197-214) New York: Cambridge University Press - Bilimoria, D. (2006).
The Relationship Between Women Corporate Directors and Women Cormporate Officers (vol. 18, issue 1, pp. 47-61) Journal of Managerial Issues - Zelechowski, D. D., Bilimoria, D. , Haug, R. (2006).
Female Directors, CEO Characteristics, and Board Structure (vol. 6, issue 1, pp. 189-196) Journal of Academy of Business and Economics - O'Neil, D. A., Bilimoria, D. (2005).
Women's Career Development Phases: Idealism, Endurance, and Reinvention (vol. 10, issue 3, pp. 168-193) Career Development International - Bilimoria, D. , Godwin, L. (2005). In Ronald R. Sims & Scott A. Quatro (Ed.)
Engaging People's Passion: Leadership for the New Century (pp. 260-279) Armonk, NY: Leadership: Succeeding in the Private, Public, and Not-for-Profit Sectors, M.E. Sharpe, Inc. - Zelechowski, D. D., Bilimoria, D. (2004).
Characteristics of Women and Men Corporate Inside Directors (vol. 12, issue 3, pp. 337-342) Corporate Governance-An Internal Review - Hopkins, M. , Bilimoria, D. (2004).
Care and Justice Orientations in Workplace Ethical Dilemmas of Women Business Owners (vol. 29, issue 4, pp. 495-517) Group and Organization Management - O'Neil, D. A., Bilimoria, D. , Saatcioglu, A. (2004).
Women's Career Types: Attributions of Satisfaction with Career Success (vol. 9, issue 5, pp. 478-500) Career Development International - Zelechowski, D. D., Bilimoria, D. (2003).
The Experience of Women Corporate Inside Directors on the Boards of Fortune 1000 Firms (vol. 18, issue 7, pp. 376-381) Women in Management Review
Presentations
- Suzanne, P. (Presenter & Author), Archibold, E., Bilimoria, D. (Author Only) Academy of Management Annual Meeting, "Relational Confidence: Theorizing the Process and Mechanisms of Validation in the Workplace", Gender and Diversity in Organizations, Vancouver, Canada. (2020).
- Van Oosten, E. B., Bilimoria, D., Buse, K. R. The Power of Women Conference, "The Power of Positive Emotion", Raquel Eatmon, Cleveland Ohio. (2018).
- Sugiyama, K., Bilimoria, D. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, "Distinction and integration: How identity processes and workspaces influence outcomes of diversit", Managerial and Organization Cognition Division, (2017).
- Archibold, E., Jané, S. E., Bilimoria, D. Academy of Management Conference, "Self-Confidence and Self-Efficacy: Conceptualization, Measurement and Practical Relevance (PDW)", Academy of Management, Atlanta. (2017).
- Jané, S. E., Bilimoria, D. Academy of Management Conference, "Self-Confidence: Themes and Aggregate Dimensions of the Construct from a Massive Online Open Course", Academy of Management, Atlanta. (2017).
- Jané, S. E., Van Esch, C., Bilimoria, D. Southern Management Association Meeting, "The Risky Business of Studying Risk in Business: A Interdisciplinary Review", Southern Management Association, Charlotte, NC. (2016).
- Sugiyama, K., Jane, S., Bilimoria, D. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, "Doing more harm than good? Communicating the gender confidence gap", Academy of Management, Anaheim, CA. (2016).
- Sugiyama, K., Bulger, M. A., Bilimoria, D. Qualitative Research in Management Conference, "I am me as part of we: Collective legacy as a mechanism for inclusion", University of Bradford School of Management, UK, Alberquerque, NM. (2016).
- Yao, T., Bilimoria, D. Academy of Management Conference, "Women on Boards and Firm Performance: The Effects of Critical Mass", Academy of Management, Philadelphia, PA. (2014).
- Bilimoria, D. Academy of Management Conference, "Academic Leadership Development Programs for Women Faculty in Science and Engineering", Academy of Management, Orlando, FL. (2013).
- Bilimoria, D. Academy of Management Conference, "Stereotypes of Women in the Workplace", Academy of Management, Orlando, FL. (2013).
- Hodigere, R., Bilimoria, D. Academy of Management Conference, "A Comparative Evaluation of the Human Capital and Professional Network Capital Characteristics of Women and Men Board Directors", Academy of Management, Orlando, FL. (2013).
- Bilimoria, D. Poster at NSF ADVANCE PI Meeting, "Academic Careers in Engineering and Science (ACES): An Overview of the NSF Advance Award (2003-2008) at ǿմý,", NSF, Washington, D.C.. (2008).