Prof. Dr. phil.
Maike Kugler
Human Resource Management
Contact
Room
W3.1.01
Colloquium
Do., 11:30 - 13:00 Uhr in Raum W3.1.01 oder virtuell (Anmeldung über Moodle)
Phone
(07231) 28-6320Maike Kugler is Professor of Human Resource Management at Pforzheim University. She teaches in the BW/Human Resources Management and Master of Human Resources Management programs and is a member of the university’s Human Resource Competence Center (HRCC).
Prior to her appointment at Pforzheim University, Maike Kugler spent twelve years in various generalist and specialist roles in Human Resource Management. As an HR Business Partner, HR Development Specialist, and Project Manager in HR digitalization, she contributed to shaping HR practices in both large corporations and medium-sized enterprises.
Alongside her professional career, she completed her doctorate at the University of Gloucestershire on the topic of followership as a complementary concept to leadership in the German service industry, and gained extensive teaching experience as a lecturer at several universities. In 2024, the was appointed Professor of Human Resource Management at a private university before joining Pforzheim University in 2026.
Maike Kugler is ICF-certified business coach. In addition to her professorship, she supports individuals, teams, and leaders in career decision-making as well as team and leader development.
Maike Kugler’s research focuses on the evolving understanding of leadership in organizations. In this context, she examines the role of followers, both in their traditional employee role and in the social construction of leadership and followership. Within this field, she collaborates with researchers from Australia, the United States, and Singapore, with a particular interest in cultural differences in the understanding of leadership and followership.
A further area of her research is the future of work. In this context, she investigates the impact of artificial intelligence on various aspects of teamwork and collaboration. Using scenario techniques, she develops possible future work environments and derives recommendations for organizations seeking to proactively prepare for the changes.
A third research focus lies in sustainable careers. Based on the concepts of boundaryless and sustainable careers, she analyses career decision-making and its perceived medium- and long-term consequences. A particular emphasis is placed on career decisions of neurodivergent individuals.
Methodologically, Maike Kugler primarily employs qualitative research approaches.
2023 - Ph.D., Business Administration
University of Gloucestershire
United Kingdom
Journal article
KUGLER, M., SIMS, R. (2026). Following the beaten paths: a systematic literature review of followership behavior. Journal of Management Development, 45 (1), pp. 17-31.
KUGLER, M. (2025). Game changer ADHD diagnosis in adulthood: reflections on subjective career success, career crafting and career outcomes. Career Development International, 30 (7), 745-761. doi:10.1108/CDI-04-2025-0165.
Dissertation
KUGLER, M. (2023). Follower Behaviour in the German Service Industry: Research Constructs and Lived Experiences Juxtaposed..
Chapter in Book
KUGLER, M., RIGGIO, R. E. (2026). Change Followership. In Satinder Dhiman (Ed.), The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Leadership and Organizational Change (1 ed., pp. 1-10). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
RIGGIO, R. E., KUGLER, M., HUNTINGTON, L. (2025). Followership Theory. In Kathy L. Guthrie, Rich Whitney (Eds.), Leadership Theories, Frameworks, and Approaches in Practice (1 ed., pp. 199-210). Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited.
