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Kei Bullock, Ph.D. is a 2025 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

Kei Bullock at her Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. Harriet Schwartz, Committee Chair, Dr. Fayth Parks, Committee Member, Dr. Christopher Neck, Committee Member

Dissertation Committee

  • Harriet Schwartz, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Fayth Parks, PhD, Committee Member
  • Christopher Neck, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

Leadership, women leaders, C-suite, executives, fitness, exercise, weightlifting, strength training, phenomenology

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

Senior-level executive leaders’ work in a dynamic, competitive, 24/7 business environment can be physically rigorous, mentally demanding, and emotionally isolating. The same holds true for women pursuing senior-level leadership roles in corporate America. Women who achieve and succeed in such roles remain the minority: Outsiders in elite spaces who are held to higher standards and overly scrutinized. Among senior-level executive women leaders, those committed to a fitness and training regimen including weightlifting constitute an even smaller minority. Senior-level executive roles require stamina, resilience, and courage—qualities that make up the foundation of the mindset of fitness and strength training (Foyster et al., 2022; McDowell-Larsen, 2021; Neck et al., 2000; O’Dougherty et al., 2008; Quick et al., 2000). This study uses a phenomenological methodology to understand how senior-level women executives experience the connection between fitness and leadership, by analyzing participants’ descriptions to reveal the essence of their shared lived experience. Emergent themes included changed mindsets such as challenging assumptions; doing hard things through discipline, commitment, and resilience; focusing on the journey over the destination through nonlinear progress and incremental goals; physical and mental confidence to be seen and heard; intrinsic drivers such as identity and investment in self; and community and team support. This study strives to inspire and support other women executives in living, leading, and thriving fully in their work and beyond. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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Kei Bullock

ORCID: #0009-0007-3796-8145

A transformative human resources executive, Dr. Nozomi "Kei" Bullock brings deep leadership expertise across the full spectrum of human capital strategies, including talent management, employee engagement, learning and development, talent acquisition, executive coaching, compensation and rewards, and workforce development. Dr. Bullock's career spans multiple Fortune 100 companies in the automotive, financial services, aerospace and defense, and manufacturing industries, where she has served as a trusted partner to senior leaders navigating complex organizational priorities to achieve sustainable success.

Dr. Bullock is recognized for shaping people-centric strategies that unlock performance, strengthen culture, and accelerate organizational effectiveness. With a steadfast belief that well-being and performance are mutually reinforcing, she champions leadership and workplace cultures that empower individuals and teams to thrive. Her work centers on enabling organizations to achieve meaningful, sustained impact through the power of their people.

A second-generation Japanese-American and native resident of Los Angeles, Dr. Bullock holds a PhD from Antioch University, a Masters of Business Administration from the University of California Los Angeles, and a Bachelor of Arts from Rice University.

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