Rethinking University Leadership: Dr. Fiona Denney on the Third Space

Dr. Fiona Denney, Professor of Leadership and Business Education at Brunel Business School, Brunel University London, brings nearly three decades of experience in UK higher education to her exploration of leadership in the “third space” of universities. In this conversation, she delves into her research, “Working Thematically: Changing the Path to Leadership for the Third Space,” which examines hybrid professional roles that sit at the intersection of academic and professional services work and are critical to how modern universities function. Drawing on examples from across the sector, she explains why traditional hierarchical structures struggle in today’s super-complex, global environment and how thematic, cross-functional ways of working can unlock more agile and inclusive leadership pathways. Through this lens, Dr. Denney highlights the often invisible contributions of third space professionals, the barriers they face in progressing to senior leadership, and the cultural and structural changes universities must make to recognize their impact and redesign leadership routes for the future. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: A. The background music incorporated in this video is the intellectual property of its respective developer and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Notwithstanding that it is a free-to-use version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy, and Deepak Bhatt do not own, and expressly do not claim, any rights, title, or interest in or to this music. B. Dr. Fiona Denney shared compelling insights from her research, “Working Thematically: Changing the Path to Leadership for the Third Space”, in an engaging conversation on the Business Talk podcast. The uploaded video contains copyrighted content, so changing any graphics, music, or on-screen appearance of the author or host is not allowed.