Personal Profile

Since joining Royal Holloway in 2015 after completing my PhD at Leuphana University Lüneburg in Germany, I have passionately dedicated myself to the field of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Currently, I serve as the Vice Dean for EDI at the School of Business and Management, a role I have held since 2023.

My research focuses on enhancing economic participation and societal inclusion for disabled individuals. This encompasses a wide range of areas, including entrepreneurship for and by disabled people, disability in both paid and unpaid work, as well as leisure, travel, and tourism. As a qualitative researcher, I employ methodologies such as ethnographies, diary studies, and visual/artistic methods, with a strong emphasis on co-created and co-produced research alongside community members and organizations. My goal is to gain profound insights into the diverse and lived experiences of disabled people globally. To this end, I have secured various external grants and collaborate with leading and emerging scholars from multiple disciplines worldwide.

I am deeply committed to leveraging my research to drive social change. In collaboration with nonprofit and for-profit partners, as well as the public sector, I strive to identify areas for implementation and improvement. To reach a broader audience, I have co-curated an exhibition, run a podcast series, and co-directed a documentary.

In addition to my research, I am an active member of the academic community. I serve on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Business Ethics (JBE) and Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice (ET&P), and have guest-edited three special issues in leading journals, including the Journal of Business Ethics. I have also held various Visiting Scholar roles and serve on the Advisory Board for the FFIB in Delhi, India.

Believing strongly in giving back to the academic community, I co-founded the Spring Institute in 2021. This annual five-day virtual event brings together PhD students, early career researchers, disability leaders, and leading scholars to discuss and enhance disability research within management and business fields.

In my teaching, I advocate for experiential learning and thought-provoking discussions on social entrepreneurship and sustainability management. I am committed to creating an inclusive classroom environment, accommodating diverse backgrounds and learning styles to ensure all students can thrive.I'm a Senior Fellow of the Higher Educaiton Acadey. I received an Excellence Teaching Award 2016 and a Team Teaching Commendation for my work in the ENterprise Hub in 2020. 

Beyond my work at Royal Holloway, I volunteer as a speaker, campaigner, and fundraiser for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association UK and volunteer for  the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People.

Please follow me on my social media sides: https://linktr.ee/anica_zeyen_phd

Other links:

• Invisible - documentary about 6 disabled women activists; based on a research project funded by the British Academy, YouTube LInk
• Accessibility & Me - podcast series featuring disabled professionals  https://acessibilityandme.castos.com/
• Layers of Vision - Exhibition that explores the experience of 10 blind and partially sighted artists living in a world made for sighted people, www.LayersOfVision.org