Thriving After Workplace Bullying

Dr. LaVena Wilkin is the Executive Dean of the College of Business and Technology at Sullivan University, Louisville, Kentucky. Before joining Sullivan, she spent twenty-six years in the construction industry. She was honored as a woman owned business finalist for the National Association of Women Business Owners. She started her career at Sullivan in 1999 as a faculty member. After selling the construction company in 2001, Dr. Wilkin came to work at Sullivan full-time. Dr. Wilkin has facilitated workshops on communication, emotional intelligence, forgiveness, P.E.A.C.E. from Conflict, and workplace bullying for a range of organizations. She is the former Editor for the Journal of Conflict Management and has co-edited or contributed to a number of books including The De Gruyter Handbook of Organizational Conflict Management.
Dr. Wilkin earned her PhD in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Her dissertation topic was workplace bullying in academ

"Workplace bullying is interpersonal mistreatment, psychological harassment, or abusive conduct of antisocial behavior and aggression directed at another. If the culture of the workplace encourages or, at the least does not address the basic emotional need of feelings of belonging, the theft of disengagement may fall upon the manager whose responsibility it is to provide guidance, feedback, and recognition. An enlightened workplace recognizes its people, communicates in a respectful fashion, and encourages trust. LaVena Wilkin splendidly demonstrates that insight, information, empathy, and intervention can be even more effective in the workplace culture."
Tony Belak, JD, Ombudsperson at University of Louisville, Emeritus

"Until you understand the pain and devastation that being the target of a bully can have on a person's self-esteem and well-being (both emotional and physical), it can be hard to relate to the problem. Through interviews with numerous individuals who have endured the pain and humiliation of bullying up close and personal, LaVena Wilkin helps give voice to their experience. This book is an intensely personal accounting of how individuals have made sense of their bad workplace situation yet managed to survive - and also found ways to thrive - after it was over. Importantly, this book offers strategies for those currently experiencing bullying at work that have the most promise to help end the suffering and help yield the most positive outcomes possible. LaVena Wilkin has done a brilliant job of combining masterful storytelling with solid empirical research - it is a true must read!"
Teresa Daniel, JD, PhD, Author of Toxic Leaders and Tough Bosses: Organizational Guardrails to Keep High Performance on Track; Dean of Human Resource Programs, Sullivan University

"LaVena Wilkin shines an intense spotlight on the continued pervasive nature of workplace bullying. With surgical precision, she dissects the alarming ways in which this silent 'cancer' stealthily compromises organizational integrity, which can have a detrimental impact on its workplace culture. This essential guide emerges as an empowering call to action for leaders to step up and shape environments where intimidation and fear are replaced with a culture of dignity, mutual respect, and unwavering trust. She showcases the resilience and strength of the human spirit in overcoming adversity and rising above the destructive effects of workplace bullying and inspires readers to tap into their own inner strength to become survivors rather than victims."
Chris Stevenson, MBA, C-Suite Nonprofit Executive and Author of Unabashed Leadership: A Bold and Innovative Approach to Leading Human Services Organizations That Gets Dramatic Results