Centre for Leadership and Followership Seminar with Dr Maïlys George (IESE Business School)

Identity Threat Under Scrutiny: Insights from My Research Program and Future Directions

Abstract

Identity threats—experiences that signal harm to the value, meanings, or enactment of one’s identity—are pervasive and carry significant implications for well-being, performance, and organizational outcomes. In this talk, I will explore the drivers of identity threat and its impact on individuals and organizations, drawing insights from two recent studies. The first study is an integrative conceptual review of over 300 papers, where my co-authors and I propose a new framework for understanding identity threats, including an expanded definition and a temporal model that clarifies how these experiences unfold. This work aims to unify fragmented insights and provide a foundation for future research. The second study examines how employees experience identity transformation following burnout, revealing when and how this identity threat sparks profound learning about the self. Together, these projects illustrate the complexities of identity threat and offer new directions for research and practice. I will offer an overview of my broader work on the topic, inviting a conversation about the opportunities to advance this field and address its most pressing challenges.

About the speaker

Maïlys George is an Assistant Professor in the Managing People in Organizations Department at IESE Business School. She holds a Ph.D. in Management from ESSEC Business School. During her doctoral studies, she was a Fulbright grantee and visiting Ph.D. student at George Mason University, and she also conducted research at KU Leuven. Before joining IESE, she was an Assistant Professor of Management at EDHEC Business School. Her research focuses on role transitions, identity, identity threat, and disidentification in organizations, with work published in journals such as Journal of Applied Psychology and Academy of Management Annals. She has co-chaired symposia at the Academy of Management and secured competitive grants, including from Fulbright and KU Leuven. She teaches Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management and co-supervises a Ph.D. student at KU Leuven.