Transforming scholarship into social good

For Juliet Inyang, research is about solving real-world problems as much as it is about advancing theory. As a PhD student in Management and International Business at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, she is driven by curiosity around how knowledge can be translated into real-world solutions that empower communities, create equity, and inspire change.

Her doctoral research explores the career and leadership experiences of skilled African immigrant women in New Zealand. At the heart of her work lies a commitment to equity and inclusion, ensuring that migrant voices and African scholarship are visible in conversations that shape workplaces, communities, and society.

Beyond academia, Inyang is co-founder of Academic Hive, a platform connecting African scholars to training, mentorship, and global opportunities, and WakaForAfricans, a digital travel hub that helps African migrants settle more easily, connect with community, and feel at home in new environments.

Her early career blended research and entrepreneurship. While lecturing in Nigeria, she co-founded and led NGOs that trained youth with disabilities in vocational skills and encouraged girls to use technology to address social challenges. Her interest deepened when she was sponsored by the US Embassy in Nigeria for a study programme on social entrepreneurship at the University of Connecticut, where she connected with global changemakers such as Ashoka and Habitat for Humanity.

“Each experience reinforced the other, shaping my passion for using knowledge, innovation, and technology to create impact”

These opportunities cemented her belief in using business as a tool for social good and provided a foundation for her future ventures.

At the University of Auckland, she has contributed to the African Staff Network and the Aotearoa Centre for Leadership and Governance, while balancing life as a researcher, entrepreneur, and mother. She says balance comes from aligning tasks with purpose, clear scheduling, and strong family support.

“I had to learn that sustainability requires trust, building a team, and leading with a servant-leadership mindset.”

Juliet has actively sought opportunities to grow her leadership through several entrepreneurial programmes and workshops at the university. Delivered through the Business School’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), these experiences have provided valuable tools and networks to support her journey as a researcher-entrepreneur.

Through the Doctoral Entrepreneurial Leadership Programme (DELP), she gained new confidence to view leadership not just as a role but as a practice of empowering others and staying adaptable. The programme pushed her to explore “squiggly line careers” and rethink how research can create impact beyond academia. She was also inspired to prototype a workplace card game based on her research methodology, designed to improve workplace communication and relationships.

In September 2025, she joined the Vanguard Entrepreneurial Leaders Expedition to Silicon Valley, the innovation capital of the world. Alongside other students, she visited and engaged with entrepreneurs, executives, investors and experts from over 25 companies, start-ups, and innovation labs, including Stanford’s d.school.

“Experiencing design thinking in such a hands-on way pushed me to think more creatively about my own research and ventures.”

What struck her most was the reminder that the University of Auckland already offers world-class entrepreneurial facilities through CIE, and that innovation at home can be just as transformative.

For Inyang, social entrepreneurship is not just a career path but a philosophy. She sees this aligning closely with Aotearoa values of kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga, and globally as part of the shift toward businesses that are both profitable and purposeful.

“It ensures our pursuit of prosperity strengthens people, communities, and the planet, rather than coming at their expense.”

Her advice to other researchers and students is straightforward.

“If you’re thinking about it, do it. The first step opens doors you didn’t know existed. Keep purpose at the centre, and you will not only build something meaningful, you’ll find the motivation to keep going.”