Graduate research in the Department of Management and Marketing

Our graduate researchers are helping to change the business landscape for the better

Samantha Marshall

Meet Samantha Marshall (pictured above). She is a PhD candidate investigating how to improve gender equality in sport.

“For my Master of Public Health thesis, I investigated what local councils were doing to improve gender equality in sport,” says Marshall. “This ignited my passion for making sport more inclusive and using sport as a tool to improve gender equality.”

When an opportunity arose to undertake a PhD with La Trobe’s Centre for Sport and Social Impact, Marshall jumped at the chance. “I could not have been luckier. I get to work with an amazing team who are experts in this space,” she says.

Marshall’s research explores how to make all roles in sport more inclusive for women.

“The goal is to redress the gender imbalance so that we can work to attract and retain more women in sport, allowing them to follow their passion and improve their overall health and wellbeing,” she explains.

“I think the research we do at the Centre for Sport and Social Impact is extremely valuable and, when I finish my PhD, I would love to continue to contribute to its work.”


Minnie Hsieh

Minnie Hsieh is a PhD candidate researching the psychological wellbeing of senior entrepreneurs in Australia.

“After getting my Master of Business Administration in my home city of Taiwan, I knew I wanted to pursue my PhD,” says Hsieh.

“La Trobe ended up at the top of my list because it’s highly rated among international students. The reason I wanted to study in another country was so I could open my mind and broaden my worldview, and being part of a diverse student community allows me to do that.”

Hsieh says her student experience has exceeded her expectations.

“The Business School also offers a wonderful learning environment for PhD students and I have been able to study at La Trobe’s Bundoora and city campuses. There have also been many opportunities to receive constructive feedback from supervisors, academics and peers.”

In partnership with War on Wasted Talent, Hsieh is researching what factors contribute to the psychological well-being of senior entrepreneurs in Australia.

“Over 30% of all global entrepreneurs are over 50 and their wellbeing has not yet been studied. Improving the wellbeing of mature-aged people is part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. My research will advance the wellbeing of senior entrepreneurs and enhance their economic potential.”

Find out more about the Department of Management and Marketing. Visit our website and LinkedIn.