Strengthening research capacity through the JGSOM Meléti: Ateneo Leadership Laboratories

To further enhance the research capacity and competence at the John Gokongwei School of Management, the PhD in Leadership Studies program has initiated a significant step by launching JGSOM Meléti: Ateneo Leadership Laboratories. Rooted in the Greek word for 'research', the JGSOM Meléti is an initiative designed to cultivate an environment where rigorous academic research can thrive and where both students and alumni actively contribute to advancing knowledge in leadership studies.  

Development of the JGSOM Meléti
On 12 August 2025, Program Director Dr Emerald Jay D Ilac convened a meeting with faculty members Dr Helen Amante, Dr Robbie Lizares, Dr Rico Osi, and Dr Pilar Tolentino to discuss and develop the structure and mechanics of running and heading the JGSOM Meléti. This meeting served as a platform for collaborative planning and ensured that the laboratories would be equipped to provide meaningful opportunities for both current students and alumni.

Mentoring and Alumni Involvement
A key feature of the research laboratories is the engagement of program alumni, who are encouraged to mentor current PhD in Leadership Studies students. Alumni support students in transforming their research ideas into viable projects, offer guidance throughout the research process, and assist in navigating the path to publication. This mentorship not only helps students fulfill the publication requirement of CMO 15 series of 2019 but also sharpens their research skills, preparing them for their dissertation work.

Alignment with Strategic Research Areas
As its leadership research laboratory, the JGSOM Meléti operate within the broader research agenda of the PhD in Leadership Studies program, with a focus on Sustainability Leadership, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Emerging Technologies, and Human Resource and Organization Development. These focal areas are strategically selected to align with Ateneo’s Strategic University Areas, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the John Gokongwei School of Management’s overall Research Agenda.

Faculty Leadership and Engagement with Current Students
During the initial meeting, Dr Amante, Dr Lizares, Dr Osi, and Dr Tolentino each identified their specific research interests and agreed to lead the respective laboratories. Their leadership ensures that students have access to expert guidance in a range of cutting-edge leadership topics.

The research laboratory mentors subsequently met with PhD in Leadership Studies students from Batches 2024 and 2025. These discussions centered on the students’ ongoing research projects and served to encourage their active participation in the laboratories. Faculty mentors also shared their research interests, enabling students to identify areas of alignment and select mentors whose expertise best matches their own research goals.

Fostering Collaboration and Advancing Leadership Knowledge
By creating structured opportunities for collaboration between mentors and students, the research laboratories aim to produce more research publications, thereby enriching the body of leadership knowledge in the country. This collaborative approach not only benefits individual students but also contributes to the advancement of leadership studies as a discipline, paving the way for lifelong learning.