When Falguni Shah, Ph.D., began her doctoral research at Adler University as a student in the Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership program, she had one question in mind: Why do so many women struggle to advance into leadership roles despite their qualifications?
What started as a dissertation became something bigger.
Today, Dr. Shah is the author of “From Gaslighting To Truthlighting: A New Framework for Advancing Fair Opportunities for Women In The Workplace” a book that transforms years of research, interviews, professional experience, and personal reflection into a practical guide for creating more equitable workplaces.
For Dr. Shah, the project was not simply about publishing a book. It was about ensuring the voices of the women she interviewed extended beyond the pages of her dissertation and into accessible content.
“When I graduated, I thought, ‘How many people are actually going to read my thesis?’” Dr. Shah said. “The voices of the women I interviewed were too important to stay on a university shelf.”
Those voices were shaped by stories from women navigating mid-level management, many of whom encountered inconsistent promotion practices, subtle bias, and workplace behaviors that gradually eroded their confidence.
Through her research, Dr. Shah found that these experiences often weren’t overt acts of discrimination. Instead, they were everyday interactions: ideas overlooked in meetings, unclear promotion processes, or repeated messages that caused women to question their own abilities.
“The subtle messages people receive over time can create self-doubt,” she said. “Eventually, they begin questioning their own perception and whether they’re truly ready for the next opportunity.”
Drawing from these interviews, Dr. Shah developed what she calls the “truthlighting framework,” an action-oriented model designed not only for women seeking advancement, but also for managers, organizational leaders, and human resources professionals looking to create fairer promotion practices.
The framework reflects a career dedicated to improving systems.
Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Dr. Shah first trained as a physician before discovering a growing interest in the psychological aspects of health care. She moved to Chicago to earn a master’s degree in psychology at Loyola University, becoming the first member of her family to pursue graduate education abroad.
After working as a therapist in community mental health, Dr. Shah helped develop integrated behavioral health models that brought mental health providers directly into primary care visits, reducing barriers to care for patients. Her work later expanded into healthcare quality and patient safety where she focuses on behavioral healthcare and psychiatric hospital accreditation.
Throughout each stage of her career, Dr. Shah remained committed to improving systems that affect people’s lives.
Already teaching a community psychology course in Adler’s art therapy program, Dr. Shah enrolled in the University’s online Doctor of Philosophy in Organizational Leadership program during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her research eventually became the foundation for her book, but another Adler connection helped bring it to life.
After graduating from her doctoral program, Dr. Shah learned that Adler faculty member Jay Colker, Ph.D., was publishing a book of his own. Watching that process unfold gave Dr. Shah the confidence to pursue publication herself.
“I had no idea what went into writing a book,” she said. “Seeing someone I knew do it made me think, ‘maybe I can do this, too.’”
One chapter of her book explores the influence of Dr. Shah’s great-grandmother, a pioneering advocate for women’s rights in India who established a place where women could worship independently at a time when they were expected to remain in the background. Reflecting on her family’s history helped Dr. Shah recognize how generations of advocacy had shaped her own approach to leadership.
That personal perspective became central to the book’s message: leadership is not simply about earning promotions, but about helping create workplaces where others can thrive.
The publishing journey also pushed Dr. Shah beyond her comfort zone. After self-publishing the book, she found herself learning marketing, launching social media accounts, speaking at conferences, and presenting her work to various organizations.
In many ways, Dr. Shah discovered she needed to follow her own advice.
“One of the things I talk about in the book is self-promotion,” Shah said. “Through this journey, I have had to practice it myself.”
Before defending her dissertation, her chair, Marianne Cabrera, Ph.D., offered advice to Dr. Shah still carries with her whenever she speaks publicly.
“‘Nobody knows this content like you do,’” Dr. Shah recalled Dr. Cabrera telling her. “‘Be confident.’”
Today, whether speaking about leadership, mentoring students, or discussing her research with organizations around the country, Dr. Shah hopes her work encourages both individuals and institutions to rethink how leadership potential is recognized.
“My ultimate goal,” she said, “is to inspire women to recognize their purpose, their confidence, and their self-worth.”
“From Gaslighting To Truthlighting: A New Framework for Advancing Fair Opportunities for Women In The Workplace” is available through major online booksellers. Learn more about Dr. Shah’s work, speaking engagements, and research through her professional website.