This week, we are celebrating our second-year, Steven Vogel, who recently earned recognition as a finalist in the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition. This competition challenges graduate students to present their research in jargon-free language within three minutes to a general audience by using only one PowerPoint slide. Steven was awarded the “People’s Choice” award for his thesis, “Performing on the Glass Stage: Examining Role Congruity’s Effect on Firm Performance”. Steven’s interest in this topic stems from his undergraduate research on role-congruity theory working in parallel with his gender studies minor. This theory states that gender expectations shape perceptions of leadership ability, which affects opportunities for advancement in the workplace. The findings in his thesis offer valuable insights into the ways that gender norms influence professional performance and opportunities for leadership for women, particularly in industries where gender roles are deeply embedded.
One challenge that Steven ran into when preparing for this competition was condensing an 80-page thesis into just three minutes. He had to balance presenting complex research in a way that was theoretically sound but also accessible to a broad audience. For Steven, the greatest success was making the subject matter relatable. “Most people can identify with some form of gender-based difference in treatment. It is embedded in our systems, and we often don’t realize it in the moment,” he said. This relatability was vital to keeping the audience engaged, giving them “I never thought about that” moments during his presentation.
Steven felt that winning the “People’s Choice” Award was a rewarding experience and it meant a lot to have others recognize the importance of his research. Professionally, the award is evidence of his ability to communicate complex ideas effectively. Steven reflected that while conducting the research is important, being able to explain it in a way that is both informative and engaging is what truly sets successful research apart. The award money he received from this will be used to hire someone to assist him with data cleaning.
Looking beyond our program, Steven is considering a Ph.D. program but plans to gain additional professional experience before making that decision. For students considering a thesis, he offers practical advice: “Everything takes longer than you expect, especially if you need to rely on others. Build in cushion time and find a strategy that keeps you motivated. It is a long process, and it can be hard to stay on track, but don’t hesitate to ask questions and lean on your thesis committee—they are there to help you.”
We would like to congratulate Steven on his well-deserved recognition! We hope that his work will continue to inspire others to think critically about the systemic challenges women face in the workplace.
