Answering the Calling with Passion: Academic Odyssey as Freelance Faculty From Corporate to Campus

Grounded in Career Construction Theory, Heavy Work Investment Theory, and the Job Demand Resources Model, our study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the interplay between individual career calling, the heavy investment in work roles (work engagement and harmonious work passion), and the availability of organizational support impacting job performance and well-being (psychological distress) within the distinctive context of transitioning from a corporate career to a freelance academic role. 313 full-time senior executives who proactively opted for visiting faculty positions in reputed Indian B-schools and are presently working full-time in 12 sectors such as biotech, manufacturing, insurance, information technology (IT), and healthcare in the Indian subcontinent were a part of our multi-phased (3-wave) study. The findings of the study provide actionable insights for organizations aiming to optimize the contributions of freelance visiting professionals, enhance their well-being, and bolster their job performance.