Stephen Elms (he/him) is a researcher with three decades of experience spanning theater production, digital strategy, and academic research, bringing unique insight to organizations navigating complex change. His journey from Broadway stagehand to digital strategist, and now to doctoral researcher, reflects a career built on adaptability and continuous learning.
His transitions between industries sparked his current research focus at University College London, where he investigates how technological advancement impacts workforce development in offsite construction. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of adapting skills across evolving industries, he is driven to help workers facing increasingly complex technical demands. His research examines crucial questions about skill adaptation and training in an era of rapid technological change.
Stephen’s career began in New York City as an IATSE stagehand, working on Broadway productions like “Rent,” “Aida,” and “Riverdance”; he later transitioned into digital strategy and marketing, shaping brand strategies for major live entertainment organizations including Blue Man Group, Disney Theatrical Productions, The Metropolitan Opera, and Tony Award-winning Broadway shows.
Stephen holds an MFA in producing and theatre management from Columbia University’s School of the Arts (2008) and a BFA in lighting design from the School of Design and Production at University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
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