Helena M. A. Hannonen, M.A., Ph.D. was a professor in Business Management Department at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. She teaches upper level courses in leadership and management, talent management and training, international human resource management, and organizational behavior and change. During her tenure as the department chair, she led the changes in the department and curriculum from international business management to current business degree with tracks in finance, human resource management, marketing and operational and supply change.
Dr. Hannonen majored in math and sciences in Finland and pursued her further education in the United States. She holds a B.A. in International Relations and German, a Masters of Organizational Behavior from Marriott School of Management at Brigham Young University, and her doctoral studies focused in Complex Organizations and Ethnic and Minority Relations. She continued her involvement in Marriott School of Management at BYU by serving in the Global Steering Committee of the BYU Management Society, with the latest responsibility over Asia-Pacific Region till fall of 2015.
Prior to her academic career, Dr. Hannonen worked in the corporate world in Organizational Effectiveness and Human Resource Development. She has held leadership positions in Fortune 100 corporations, as well as functioned as an external or internal consultant to businesses, government, and educational organizations in Europe, South America, and the United States. She has also been involved in social entrepreneurial and change projects throughout the world. Fluent in several languages her publications are in 50 languages coving topics from business to inspirational stories. Her research interests include leadership, multicultural teams, women in management, and organizational effectiveness and global leadership development.
Professional Affiliations: Society of Human Resource Management, Association for Talent Development, Academy of Management, Phi Kappa Phi, OD Network, AIR, BYU Management Society, Academic Women’s Network.
Student Organizations: SIFE (Enactus) 2007-2010, founded BYU–Hawaii student chapter of BYU Management Society 2008, faculty advisor 2008-2015; Phi Kappa Phi.
Certificates: DDI, IDEA, Workstyle Preference, DISC, Covey Leadership, TQM
Selected Awards:
- W. Lowell Benson Lifetime Award, 2015
- Dean’s Gold Chapter Awards 2010-2015
- Faculty Awards 2009, 2010, 2011
- Technology Grant Awards, 2003, 2005
- Faculty Technology Grant Award, 2003
- Idea Competition, Etätyökeskus - Uukuniemi, Finland, 1999
- Navy National Best Manufacturing Practices Award, 1994
