Jul 23, 2026
It's done: Franca Ledermann defended her dissertation with summa cum laude!
Prof. Wegge congratulates Franca Ledermann on successfully defending her dissertation.
We congratulate Franca Ledermann on her outstanding doctoral dissertation titled:
“Breaking the Silence with Emotions: Emotional Resources as a Buffer Against
Silence in the Workplace.”
Ms. Ledermann was the last doctoral student at the AO Chair under the supervision of Jürgen Wegge and completed her work with flying colors, bringing the total number of doctoral degrees we have celebrated to 28.
In terms of content, Ms. Ledermann conducted three studies: a meta-analysis and two intervention studies (one field study and one laboratory study). Based on 84 studies, the meta-analysis reveals a consistently negative association between emotional resources and silence. Building on this, the subsequent studies examine the effectiveness of authenticity-based training in promoting emotional resources and reducing silence and emotional exhaustion. Among other things, the fact that all three studies were publicly pre-registered and that deviations from the planned study protocols were transparently documented was particularly commended. The great value of this work also lies in the theoretically grounded integration of employee silence into the Job Demands–Resources Model, which systematically highlights the role of emotional resources as central explanatory and protective mechanisms. It provides important evidence-based and practice-relevant insights indicating that emotion-oriented resource development can reduce silence and the associated consequences of stress.
The results were convincingly presented on July 22 and discussed at a high academic level. The doctoral cap, which the team had once again crafted themselves, delighted everyone!
Franca Ledermann's doctoral cap
We took this doctoral defense as an opportunity to thank Ms. Binye with a bouquet of flowers; she always ensured at the Doctoral Examinations Office that everything ran smoothly and functioned perfectly from a technical standpoint—Thank you, Ms. Binye!
Prof. Wegge and Ms. Ledermann say goodbye to Ms. Binye (center).
The entire AO team is delighted for Ms. Ledermann and her family, who celebrated a wonderful farewell after the exam—a “graduation” ceremony with the original school backpack from her first day of school!—perhaps also intended as a fresh start elsewhere, for which we’re all keeping our fingers crossed.
Prof. Wegge congratulates Franca Ledermann on successfully defending her dissertation.