Looking forward, looking back: Mission based research and teaching

Abstract

Our lives as researchers are constantly changing, now more than ever as we navigate global developments such industry 4.0, changing geopolitical shifts of power, climate change, post COVID-19 work and life expectations and not least harnessing the value of digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence, and big data. We are evolving as researchers and just as importantly, we are developing as learning facilitators, helping the next generation prepare for work life after a bachelor, masters or PhD degree. Many of us met each other again, physically, at conferences such as Academy of Management this year, for the first time since 2019, truly honored to see so many new and old friends again. We see the importance of learning from the pandemic period and the consequent digital advances in teaching technology, remote meeting tools and state-of-art digital classrooms, whilst maintaining the focus on physical presence for community building in our work-life, when it is the best solution for new knowledge building.