The corporate landscape is rife with instances of leaders who have left a trail of sinister outcomes.
In the last three decades, the research in leadership and organisational sciences has expanded in theoretical and typological breadth to include the dark side. These works have aimed at uncovering the complex interplay of personalities, power dynamics, and organisational cultures that can lead to destructive and unethical behaviours in the workplace. While there are volumes of literature on leadership, there is a dearth of research that integrates dark leadership and cross-cultural norms, perspectives, variances, and interventions. The Dark Side of Leadership: A Cross-Cultural Compendium is a collaborative and transdisciplinary venture that draws on the knowledge and experiences of practitioners and scholars across the globe to explore the contentious and evolving subject of dark leadership. The primary consideration of this book is to explore dark side leadership conceptualisations and manifestations across contexts and provide insights into traits, processes, and outcomes, as well as interventionist paradigms. Hofstede’s research demonstrates the fundamental role of national and organisational culture in shaping leadership behaviour. This book comprehensively documents cross-cultural cases, perspectives, and research on the dark side of leadership.
About the Editors
Adebukola Oyewunmi
Adebukola Oyewunmi is the founder and lead trainer at Characom Leadership Consulting. A passionate advocate of the bright side of leadership, she has facilitated numerous local and international workshops on leadership effectiveness across both private and public sectors.
With years of experience as a banking consultant in one of the United Kingdom’s major financial institutions, she brings a wealth of real-world insight to her leadership practice. Dr. Oyewunmi holds master’s and doctoral degrees in Strategic Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations.
Her research interests span leadership development, organisational psychology, and ethical behaviour, with collaborations extending across Africa, Europe, and the Americas. She is a Facilitator of the Global Futures Literacy Network and has served as an Assessor for the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a programme funded by the United States Government.
She is an Associate Editor and member of the editorial boards of two reputable international journals. An Academic Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD), Dr. Oyewunmi currently lectures at Teesside University International Business School, United Kingdom.
Gill Owens
Gill Owens is a Chartered Psychologist with over four decades of professional experience spanning the private and public sectors as well as higher education. Her distinguished career includes launching, managing, and successfully selling businesses—testament to her entrepreneurial acumen and strong business insight.
Her interest in dark leadership emerged from working with senior organisational leaders whose styles contrasted sharply with her own supportive approach. Transitioning into academia enabled her to explore this subject deeply, making it a cornerstone of her research.
She has delivered numerous interactive seminars with MBA students, blending her practical expertise with academic insight. At the heart of all her professional pursuits lies a deep commitment to kindness, an ethical principle that guides her leadership philosophy, research, and teaching practice.
Ogechi Adeola
Professor Ogechi Adeola is a distinguished scholar and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kigali, Rwanda. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Torrens University Australia.
Her research has been featured in leading international journals such as the Journal of International Business Studies, Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Business Research, Industrial Marketing Management, Psychology and Marketing, and the International Marketing Review.
Between 2016 and 2019, her co-authored papers earned Best Paper Awards at multiple international conferences, and in 2022 she received the Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding Paper.
In 2024, she was honoured with the Most Influential Women Sustainability Award by the World Association for Sustainable Development (WASD) for her contributions to women’s empowerment and sustainable development. In 2025, the International Hospitality Institute (IHI) recognised her among the 50 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality and Travel.
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