Ute was a part-time research student at the University of Chester, UK, from February 2021 until September 2025 working towards for a Professional Doctorate. 

The title of her thesis is:

“Coaching for Well-Being and Engagement in Contemporary Work Environments” 

You will find her publications on ORCID ResearchGate and on Forbes

Why this research?

Since the pandemic hit the world in 2020, organizations, leaders and employees have gone through immense change in a very short amount of time. Working from home, which had before the pandemic been a privilege for the selected few, has since 2020 become a ‘new normal’ for many office workers. Most of us have been on a steep learning curve, be it about technology, about how to separate or integrate working life and private life when both take place in the same physical location, how to onboard and offboard staff in a remote or hybrid workplace setting, just to name a few. 

The working world is trying to reorganize and restructure, hoping to find their best way to segue into a post-Covid-19 era. Yet research has already demonstrated that - despite the steep learning curves of so many of us, and the comparatively smooth transition from working in the office to working from home - there remain areas in which more learning needs to happen to make these new remote and hybrid workplace settings attractive in a sustainable manner, allowing both leaders, employees, and organizations to continue to grow and thrive personally as well as economically.

The purpose of Ute’s study was to learn more about the skill gaps that were identified in a very broad and general manner among leaders in remote and hybrid work environments and which are attributed to a decline in workplace well-being and engagement among workforces; and the role coaching could play to help mitigate these gaps.

The findings from the study will be used to derive recommendations for organizations, leaders, and practitioners in the field.

Ethical Approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the University of Chester.

• Data Collection - Stage 1 - Online Questionnaire - This Stage is over - The survey was closed on October 26, 2022 
• Data Collection - Stage 2 - Focus Group Conversations - This stage is completed as well - Thank you very much to everyone who dedicated their time and shared their experiences in the two focus groups that took place in May 2023.
• Data Analysis & Findings - This stage is completed - Findings will be published at the end of the process.
• A “Notice of Intention to Submit” was sent to my supervisory team. 
• On March 04, 2025 the thesis was submitted. 
• On May 28, 2025 the thesis was successfully defended.
• On June 28, 2025 minor amendments to the thesis were submitted.
• On August 13, 2025 minor amendments were approved.
• On September 10, 2025 the Assessment Awards Board confirmed the degree of Doctor of Professional Studies

Next milestones: 

• Thesis is available on Chester Rep
• Graduation Ceremony on November 05, 2025 in Chester Cathedral

Interested in the findings of this research in form of a keynote, presentation or talk? 

Last updated: On November 10, 2025