Gelaye Debebe
Gelaye Debebe
Associate Professor of Organizational Sciences
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Gelaye Debebe
Room 302, 600 21st Street NW
Washington DC 20052
Gelaye Debebe is an Associate Professor of Organizational Sciences at the George Washington University. She is also a Faculty Affiliate at the Center for Gender in Organizations at Simmons Graduate School of Management and the George Washington University Women’s Studies Program. She holds a B.S. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in Human Resource Development from the American University, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the University of Michigan. Her research is concerned with how people learn individually and jointly in the face of potentially-inhibiting social norms and inequalities. She has explored this question in the context of how individuals representing culturally dissimilar and unequal groups achieve coordination in their interactions, how women learn and develop as leaders in the context of limiting societal gender norms, and how individuals successfully craft talent trajectories in the context of social identity ascription. Among others, her work has appeared in Research in Organizational Behavior, Journal of Management Education, Advancing Women in Leadership Journal, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Human Resources Development International, Cogent Business and Management, and Development in Practice. She is also author of two books: Navigating Power: Cross-cultural Competence (Lexington Books) and Women’s Leadership Development: Caring Environments & Paths to Transformation (Routledge).
Selected Professional Experience
Associate Professor, George Washington University, 2014 to present
Program Director, Organizational Sciences Graduate Program, 2021-present
Program Director, Organizational Sciences Graduate and Undergraduate Programs, Department of Organizational Sciences and Communication, The George Washington University, 2015 to 2017
Assistant Professor, George Washington University, 2003 to 2014
Research Assistant, University of Michigan Business School, 1994 to 1998
Program Coordinator, Programs in Professional Education, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, 1992 to 1993
Program Director, Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, American University, 1991 to 1992
Program Manager, Office of Continuing Studies, American University, 1991 to 1992
Program Coordinator, Office of Continuing Studies, American University, 1988 to 1991
Faculty Speaker, The George Washington University, Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Master’s Graduation Ceremony, 2019.
Nominee. Deloitte Ellen Gabriel Chair for Women and Leadership. Simmons Graduate School of Management. 2012.
Best Paper Proceedings. Academy of Management. 2010.
Davis Conference on Qualitative Research Best Paper Award (with Jane Dutton and Amy Wrzesniewski). 2009.
Gil Whitaker Fellowship. University of Michigan. 1997.
Member. American University Chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha, Public Affairs Honor Society. 1992.
American Society for Training and Development Scholarship for Graduate Students in Human Resource Development. 1991.
- Cross-cultural competence
- Women’s leadership development
- Authentic talent development
- Ethic of care
- Qualitative research methods
ORSC 2046 - Global Organizations
ORSC 2143 - Leadership & Performance
Introduction to Organizational Behavior
Managing Cultural Diversity in Organizations
Qualitative Methods in Action Research
Organization Theory
“A very worthwhile book” that “adds substantial value to the field of organizational studies.... It will be of interest to scholars in cross-cultural communication, interorganizational learning, multi-party dispute resolution, and the development of dialogue among discrepant communities of practice.”
—Administrative Sciences Quarterly
“A terrific synthesis and extension of theories and concepts that help explain the success or failure of coordination projects between Anglo and Navajo participants. Inter-cultural differences in power and culture, as well as the history and cultural memories of the groups and how these differences are handled, prove to be very useful in accounting for success. Debebe's study uses a variety of qualitative data sources and has implications for many other multi-cultural projects.”
— Mayer N. Zald, University of Michigan
“This book breaks new ground in the field of cross-cultural collaboration. Debebe argues decisively that our current understanding of cross-cultural collaboration is impoverished because it overemphasizes culture and fails to address adequately the role of “inherited power” or the history of power relations between groups. Debebe offers a framework for understanding the role of power, the skills and conditions necessary to navigate it successfully, and the perils and pitfalls of diversity, cultural competence, or cultural sensitivity.”
—Joyce K. Fletcher, Simmons School of Management
“A must-read for those committed to realizing true multiculturalism and educating others about it.”
— Stella M. Nkomo, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Edited Special Issue
Debebe, G. (2023) Special issue on “Authentic Talent Development,” European Journal of Training and Development, 47:3/4.
Journal Articles
Debebe, G. (2024) “Defensive Diversity Management as a Tool of Genderwashing in Exclusive Talent Management.” In R.A. Gardiner, W. Fox-Kirk, C.J. Elliott and V. Stead (Eds.), Genderwashing in Leadership: Power, Policies, and Politics. Emerald.
Debebe, G. (2023), “Authentic Talent Development in Sociocultural Context: Interdisciplinary Perspectives.” European Journal of Training and Development, 47 (3/4): 281-300.
Reinert, K. and Debebe, G. (2023) “The ethics of talent development: Frameworks and identities,” European Journal of Training and Development, 47 (3/4): 327-347.
Debebe, G. (2017) "Authentic Leadership and Talent Development: Fulfilling Individual Potential in Sociocultural Context," Advances in Developing Human Resources, 19(4): 420-438.
Reinert, K.A., Reinert, O.T., and Debebe, G. (2016) “The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises: Better But Not Enough,” Development in Practice, 26(6): 816-823.
Debebe, G., Anderson, D., Bilimoria, D., Vinnicombe, S. (2016) “Women's Leadership Development Programs: Lessons Learned and New Frontiers,” Journal of Management Education, 40(3): 231-252.
Debebe, G. (2011) “Creating a Safe Environment for Women’s Leadership Transformation,” Journal of Management Education, 35(5): 679-712.
Academy of Management Best Paper 2010
Featured in Journal of Management Education podcast
Featured in Sage Publications, Management INK
Debebe, G. (2011) “Creating Cross-Cultural Knowledge: Process, Relationship, and Task Aspects,” Issues in Intercultural Communication, 3(1): 1-20.
Debebe, G. (2010) “Fostering Receptivity in Cross-Cultural Coordination: The Practices of Civic Virtue,” Human Resource Development International, 13(4): 443-461.
Debebe, G. (2009) “Transformational Learning in Women’s Leadership Development Training,” Advancing Women in Leadership Journal, 29(7): 1-12.
Debebe, G. (2008) “Cross-Cultural Competence and Power-Based Rules: A Native American Case Study,” International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 32(5): 399-414.
Wrzesniewski, A., Dutton, J.E., and Debebe, G. (2004) “Interpersonal Sensemaking and the Meaning of Work,” Research in Organizational Behavior, 25: 93-135.
Received over 1,000 Google Scholar citations
Subject of an Academy of Management session entitled “Interpersonal Moments at Work,” 2010
Debebe, G. (2002) “Guest Learning and Adaptation in the Field: A Navajo Case Study,” Development in Practice, 12(3): 355-369.
Contributions to Edited Volumes
Reinert, K.A. Reinert, O. T. and Debebe, G. (2022) “The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.” In K.A. Elliott (Ed.), Handbook of Globalisation and Labour Standards. Edward Elgar.
Debebe, G. (2017) “Global Organizations.” In K.A. Reinert (Ed.), Handbook of Globalisation and Development. Edward Elgar.
Dutton, J.E., Debebe, G., and Wrzesniewski, A. (2016) “Being Valued and Devalued at Work: A Social Valuing Perspective.” In K. Elsbach (Ed.), Qualitative Organizational Research: Best Papers from the Davis Conference on Qualitative Research. Volume 3, Information Age Publishing.
Debebe, G. and Reinert, K.A. (2014) “Leading with Our Whole Selves: A Multiple Identity Approach to Leadership Development.” In M. Milville and A. Ferguson (Eds.), Handbook on Race-Ethnicity and Gender in Psychology, Springer.
Debebe, G. (2009) “Brain Waste.” In K.A. Reinert and R.S. Rajan (Eds.), Princeton Encyclopedia of the World Economy. Princeton University Press.
Debebe, G. (2009) “Cross-Cultural Knowledge Creation: A Native American Case Study.” In Frank H. Columbus (ed.), Cultural Diversity: Issues, Challenges, and Perspectives. Nova Science Publisher.
Debebe, G. (2003) “Guest Learning and Adaptation in the Field: A Navajo Case Study.” In J. Pettit and L. Roper (Eds.), Development and the Learning Organization. Oxfam and Institute for Development Studies. Translated into Spanish, French and Portuguese.
Wrzesniewski, A., Dutton, J.E., and Debebe, G. (2002) “Help from Unexpected Places: Access and Assistance from within an Organization.” In M. Feldman, J. Bell, and M. Berger (Eds.), Gaining Access to People and Organizations. Altamira Press.
Quinn, R.E., O’Neill, R., and Debebe, G. (1996) “Confronting the Tensions in an Academic Career.” In P. Frost and S. Taylor (Eds.), Rhythms of Academic Life. Sage Publications.
Editorial
Debebe, G. and K.A. Reinert (2020) “Systemic Racism Is a Drag on the U.S. Economy,” The Hill.
Ph.D., Department of Organizational Behavior, School of Business, University of Michigan, 2002
M.S., Human Resource Development, American University, 1992
B.A., Government and Politics, University of Maryland, School of Government and Politics, 1986