Research that informs practice
Gayathri’s doctoral studies in Transdisciplinary Research explores how lived experience and storytelling — when engaged with care and rigor — can shift how leaders understand problems, make decisions, and affect systemic change. These insights inform our research projects (listed below) and knowledge mobilization, including a Hearth 2 Heart episode episode where Gayathri shares her journey about embarking on a PhD.
Assume We Can (Building Opportunities in STEMM)
In partnership with LotusSTEMM, and funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE), this multi-year national research project examines how leadership structures, organizational culture, and systemic barriers shape the experiences of women of South Asian descent in Canada in STEMM fields.
Grounded in survey research, focus groups, and story-based knowledge mobilization, the project culminated in a learning management system and practical learning modules designed for educators, employers, and community leaders. These resources aim to translate research into systemic change action by strengthening awareness, reflection, and more inclusive leadership practice across the STEMM ecosystem.
All-In: Pathways to Economic and Financial Inclusion for Canada
From 2022–2023, Gayathri served as a Fellow with the Public Policy Forum on All-In: Pathways to Economic and Financial Inclusion for Canada, a multi-phase national research initiative co-sponsored by TD Bank.
The project engaged stakeholders across Canada to examine how economic systems distribute opportunity and risk — and what practical, evidence-informed measures can support more inclusive outcomes.
This experience strengthens our ability to support leaders working within complex policy, regulatory, and multi-stakeholder environments.
Advancing Women Engineers in Leadership
In partnership with Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE), Prairie Catalyst Consulting, and funded by Natural Resources Canada, we completed a research study to better understand the advancement of women engineers into leadership across Canada. The project explored the current landscape of programs, stakeholders, and systemic barriers, while identifying practical opportunities to support more equitable leadership pathways across the engineering ecosystem.
The final report, Advancing Women Engineers in Leadership, will be released in late 2026. In the meantime, this page offers an overview of the study and its goals.