Xiaoyun Cao

Xiaoyun “Aarn” Cao received her Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015. Previously in 2009, she graduated with a master’s degree in human resources and industrial relations from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

Her research explores the mechanisms that contribute to positive experiences in organizations. She possesses expertise in the areas of leadership, social networks, organizational culture, and change management. Her work has been published in major academic journals including the Journal of Management. She has also conducted research for China’s national government and has consulted for a number of Chinese companies. Before started her academic career, she worked for transnational corporations including Carrefour, Coca Cola, and Ogilvy.

Cao has more than 10 years of accumulated teaching knowledge and experience in the United States and China, and has taught in a variety of contexts spanning both graduate and undergraduate levels, executive- and researcher-oriented courses, and in various fields including leadership theories and practices, human resource management, organizational behavior, organizational theory, marketing, research methods, and business analytics.

Research Interests

• Leadership
• Social networks in organizations
• Employment arrangements and idiosyncratic deals
• Organizational culture
• Organizational change and development
• Workplace discretionary behaviors

Education

• PhD University of Illinois at Chicago, 2015
• MA University of Minnesota, 2009
• BA Renmin University, 2007

Companies

• Visiting Assistant Professor of Management Illinois Tech Stuart School of Business (2022)
• Lecturer in Business Lake Forest College (2020 — 2022)
• Visiting Assistant Professor University of Illinois Chicago (2019 — 2020)
• Assistant Professor Renmin University of China (2015 — 2019)
• PhD Candidate, Research Assistant, Lecturer University of Illinois at Chicago (2010 — 2015)
• Talent Development Assistant Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota (2009 — 2009)
• Analyst (Part-time) IPSA International (2008 — 2009)
• Human Resources Consultant Sinotrust (2008 — 2008)
• PR Consultant (Part-time) Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (2007 — 2007)