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Surabhi Lal, Ph.D. is a 2026 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

surabhi lal committee

Surabhi Lal at her Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. J. Beth Mabry, Committee Chair, Dr. Fayth M. Parks, Committee Member, Dr. Ada T. Cenkci, Committee Member.

Dissertation Committee

  • J. Beth Mabry, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Fayth Parks, PhD, Committee Member
  • Ada Cenkci, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

workplace belonging, organizational belonging, belonging, authenticity, leadership, dignity, high quality relationships, relational cultural theory, ecosystem, B Corp, belonging, phenomenology, small business, organizational culture, qualitative research

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

The need to belong is deeply human. Today’s workplaces advertise “cultures of belonging,” but what is workplace belonging? Could remote and hybrid workplaces provide an opportunity for connection and belonging? How are employees experiencing belonging at work, and what are the people around them doing to contribute to their experience of workplace belonging? Weaving together concepts from humanistic management, positive organizational scholarship, and critical theory, this phenomenological study examines how middle managers at B Corp organizations who are working in hybrid and remote arrangements experience belonging, and the actions and behaviors that contribute to workplace belonging. Belonging has been studied extensively across fields, however there is not a broadly shared definition of belonging. Based on belonging research, this study defines workplace belonging as “a person’s feeling of being valued, respected, and connected to the people around them and feeling congruent with who they are in terms of their identity and values.” Through 17 participant interviews, findings of this study identify six facets of workplace belonging: connection, trust, inclusion, agency, trust, and being valued. This study proposes an ecosystem of workplace belonging framework, noting that belonging is experienced in interpersonal relationships, within organizations, and from societal patterns, cultures, and power structures. Practical, everyday actions and behaviors to positively contribute to workplace belonging are offered for colleagues, middle managers, and organizational leaders. By understanding belonging more holistically and embedding everyday actions that operationalize belonging, we can create a better, more human, future of work. The dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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surabhi lal

Surabhi Lal, Ph.D.

ORCID id:  #0009-0009-8697-8141

Surabhi Lal, PhD cultivates workplaces where human connection and strategic performance thrive together. A boundary-spanning leader, she has driven social impact across startups, higher education, workforce development, and the arts. Surabhi is an educator, organizational strategy consultant, speaker, and leadership coach and helps organizations navigate change by positioning belonging, empathy, and curiosity at the center of leadership practices. Her research centers on workplace belonging and creating a better future of work.

As the founder of SL Collaborative Ventures and a Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, she advises social impact leaders, designs strategy, and facilitates high-impact workshops on culture, equity, and team dynamics. She teaches strategic leadership to mid-career professionals and mission-driven leaders at NYU’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. Along the way she has worked with Tony Award-winning Broadway productions, interviewed best-selling authors, and was integral to the launch of a global career advancement platform and women’s community.  

Surabhi earned her PhD from Antioch University where she conducted a phenomenological study on understanding workplace belonging, actions and behaviors that contribute to workplace belonging, and developed an ecosystem model for workplace belonging. She holds a MEd from the University of Vermont and a BS in Agricultural Economics and BA in Liberal Studies from Virginia Tech. Surabhi lives in New York City and jokes that she's gone from a reluctant New Yorker to an insufferable one; she can talk with you at length about why she loves the city. She can be found feeding her creativity by exploring food markets, cooking, traveling, and dining. Her biggest adventure is parenting an active, curious teen.

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