Professor Fabiola Gerpott Twice Honored in German Media

Professor Fabiola Gerpott of WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management has been recognized by two German media outlets within the span of only one week, amplifying the relevance and meaning behind her research. Business Punk has included Professor Gerpott (Chair of Leadership) among its top 100 experts for this year. And at roughly the same time, Personalmagazin did the same, counting her among today’s 40 top HR professionals. “This recognition means a lot to me, as it shows that the research we conduct here is reaching its intended destination—the corporate world,” said Professor Gerpott. “This is confirmation that scientific work does not need to stay up in an ivory tower. On the contrary, it can inspire leaders and spark change within an organization.”

Business Punk’s 100 for 2025

Every year, a panel of experts vote on the Business Punk’s most notable 100 personalities. This year’s list comprised investor Janna Ensthaler, serial entrepreneur and investor in start-ups Carsten Puschmann, “Social Media Pirate” Max Anzille, AI-focused entrepreneur Annika von Mutius, gen Z influencer Neil Heinisch, and director at Philip Morris Germany Veronika Rost. The industry experts first selected 250 nominees and then narrowed the list down to the top 100 minds in business. And they mean individuals who are helping to further develop and modernize Germany. These are talented innovators—people from whom the experts predict to be hearing a lot more in the future. The magazine describes Professor Gerpott as one of “Europe’s [ten] new thought leaders.”

Personalmagazin’s 40 Leading HR Professionals

Personalmagazin’s editorial team selects 40 leading HR minds every two years, considering a group of leading personalities from management, consulting, and the sciences. Professor Gerpott has made it onto the list as one of only ten leading researchers focusing on human resources. Based on suggestions from their readership, the editorial team determined 100 nominees and, after intensive consultation with industry contacts, ultimately selected the 40 winners. This year, the focus was on narrowing down who has particular influence on the transformation of today’s companies and who is actively driving the economy forward.

About Professor Fabiola Gerpott

Professor Fabiola H. Gerpott is an expert in (self-)leadership, diversity management, and organizational behavior at WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management. She is committed to ensuring that diversity is valued more highly by managers and employees alike. Her research focuses on how empirical data can be used to help people shape the future of work in humane and productive ways.