Artificial Intelligence and Leadership Research

Researchers affiliated with UNC Charlotte’s Center for Leadership Science explore how artificial intelligence and advanced analytics are transforming organizations, leadership and the future of work. Their work spans machine learning, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, bias in data science and the role of AI in workplace decision-making and collaboration.

Recent publications and projects highlight how these technologies can improve leadership assessment, analyze organizational communication, reduce bias in data science workflows and reshape scientific inquiry and human resource management. This work reflects the center’s interdisciplinary approach and its connections to UNC Charlotte’s broader artificial intelligence research initiatives.

Selected AI-Related Research

AI and Leadership

Researchers affiliated with the Center for Leadership Science examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping leadership, management practices and scientific inquiry.

Budhwar, P., Chowdhury, S., Wood, G., Aguinis, H., Bamber, G. J., Beltran, J. R., Boselie, P., Cooke, F. L., Decker, S., DeNisi, A., Dey, P. K., Guest, D., Knoblich, A. J., Malik, A., Paauwe, J., Papagiannidis, S., Patel, C., Pereira, V., Ren, S., Rogelberg, S., Saunders, M. N. K., Tung, R. L., & Varma, A. (2023).
HRM in the age of generative AI: Perspectives and research direction on ChatGPT. Human Resource Management Journal, 33(3), 606–659.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12524

Gooty, J., Post, C., & Ladge, J. (2026).
The Trouble with Heroic Leadership. MIT Sloan Management Review.
https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-trouble-with-heroic-leadership/

Van Quaquebeke, N., Tonidandel, S., & Banks, G. C. (2025).
Beyond efficiency: How artificial intelligence (AI) will reshape scientific inquiry and the publication process. The Leadership Quarterly, 36.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2025.101895

Machine Learning and Data Science

CLS researchers apply machine learning and advanced analytics to improve leadership assessment, personnel selection and data science practices.

Banks, G. C., Tonidandel, S., Dou, W., Gerson, M. J., Xu, D., & Yavorsky, J. E. (2025).
How to Reduce Bias in the Life Cycle of a Data Science Project. Journal of Business and Psychology.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-025-10022-x

Banks, G. C., Dou, W., & Tonidandel, S. (2025).
System and Methods for Predicting Functions Based on Multimodal Data Objects. U.S. Patent Application. Filed August 11, 2025.

Kadolkar, I., Doshi, D. V., Tonidandel, S., & Cortina, J. M. (In press).
I gotta feeling: Advancing sentiment analysis in organizational science. Organizational Research Methods.

Natural Language Processing and Communication Research

Faculty also use natural language processing and computational methods to analyze workplace communication, collaboration and participation dynamics.

Bilotta, I., Tonidandel, S., Liaw, W., King, E., Carvajal, D., Taylor, A., Thamby, J., Xiang, Y., Tao, C., & Hansen, M. (2024).
Examining Linguistic Differences in Electronic Health Records for Diverse Patients With Diabetes: Natural Language Processing Analysis. JMIR Medical Informatics.
https://medinform.jmir.org/2024/1/e50428
https://doi.org/10.2196/50428

Kreamer, L., Rogelberg, S., Tankelevitch, L., & Rintel, S. (2024).
Virtual Voices: Exploring Individual Differences in Written and Verbal Participation in Meetings. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 152.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2024.104015

Faculty Recognition and Ongoing Work

Tonidandel, S. (2026).
Recipient of the Jeanneret Award for Excellence in the Study of Individual or Group Assessment for advancing personnel selection and prediction through machine learning.

Rogelberg, S.
Appointed a founding member of the Work AI Institute, a cross-university initiative exploring the role of artificial intelligence in the workplace.
https://www.glean.com/work-ai-institute

Current research projects include:

  • AI adoption and meeting effectiveness in organizations
  • AI tools for coding team and collaboration dynamics
  • AI copilots in meetings and participation dynamics
  • AI note-taking technologies and workplace communication
  • The impact of AI adoption on workplace inequality