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Dr Liza Kirchberg

“My DBA project explored the responsibilities and perceived barriers of sustainability managers in driving corporate sustainable transformation within the German finance industry. I aimed to fill a gap in the academic discourse by highlighting the practical realities and strategic potential of these key change agents.

One of the most striking findings was the disconnect between the official job descriptions of sustainability managers and their actual day-to-day responsibilities. Many act as change agents and knowledge brokers, navigating between regulatory pressure, top-management expectations, and internal resistance. A key enabler identified was the active commitment of leadership and a change-conducive corporate culture – without which sustainable transformation is unlikely to succeed.”

Dr Kirchberg found the international networking and presentation opportunities facilitated by the University to be an enriching element of her time studying and expressed her sincere gratitude to supervisors Prof. Robin Bell and Dr. Jane Keenan for their support. She says “Graduating feels both surreal and deeply gratifying. It marks the end of a long, intense, and transformative journey – and the beginning of a new chapter where I get to apply the insights in practice”.

Since January 2024, Dr Kirchberg has been working independently as a strategic sustainability consultant. Building on over a decade of experience in the banking sector and roles at international firms like Hansgrohe Group, Haufe Group, and ADA Cosmetics, she now supports companies in developing and embedding robust sustainability strategies. Speaking of the benefits of the DBA programme, she states “the doctorate has strongly sharpened my approach – and I feel deeply fulfilled being able to support several organizations in their sustainable transformation journey”.