Personal Profile

Since joining Royal Holloway in 2015, following the completion of my PhD at Leuphana University Lüneburg in Germany, I have been deeply committed to advancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). I currently serve as Vice Dean for EDI in the School of Business and Management, a position I have held since 2023.

My research centres on improving economic participation and societal inclusion for disabled individuals. This spans a broad spectrum of topics, including entrepreneurship by and for disabled people, disability in both paid and unpaid work, and access to leisure, travel, and tourism. As a qualitative researcher, I employ methodologies such as ethnography, diary studies, and visual/artistic approaches, with a strong emphasis on co-created and co-produced research in collaboration with community members and organisations. My aim is to generate deep insights into the diverse lived experiences of disabled people globally. I have secured multiple external research grants and work with both established and emerging scholars across disciplines and countries.

I am passionate about using research to drive meaningful social change. In partnership with nonprofit and for-profit organisations, as well as public sector bodies, I work to identify areas for practical implementation and improvement. To engage wider audiences, I have co-curated exhibitions, hosted a podcast series, and co-directed a documentary.

Beyond research, I actively contribute to the academic community. I serve on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Business Ethics and Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, and have guest-edited three special issues in leading journals, including the Journal of Business Ethics. I have held Visiting Scholar positions and currently sit on the Advisory Board of the FFIB in Delhi, India.

In 2021, I co-founded the Spring Institute, an annual five-day virtual event that brings together PhD students, early career researchers, disability leaders, and senior scholars to advance disability research in management and business.

In my teaching, I champion experiential learning and critical discussions around social entrepreneurship and sustainability management. I strive to create inclusive classroom environments that support diverse backgrounds and learning styles, ensuring all students can thrive. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have received an Excellence in Teaching Award (2016) and a Team Teaching Commendation for my work in the Enterprise Hub (2020).

Outside of Royal Holloway, I volunteer as a speaker, campaigner, and fundraiser for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association UK, and support the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People

Please follow me on my social media channels: https://linktr.ee/anica_zeyen

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