Maria Arango Kure
MMTC Doctoral Candidate, Business Administration
Research Focus
Maria’s research explores how digital technologies shape institutions, influence, and ethical boundaries in complex and evolving ways. Her dissertation examines platform dynamics in the media industry—particularly how interactions among users, algorithms, institutions, and infrastructures influence what is perceived as legitimate, ethical, or possible in digital environments.
Broadly, her work interrogates how digital systems frame information, constrain agency, and impact decision-making across organizational and societal contexts. She employs a mixed-methods approach—combining computational and interpretive methods—to analyze these dynamics and their implications for governance, communication, and social outcomes.
Societal Contribution
Through her research, Maria aims to surface the often-invisible dynamics that influence visibility, choice, and legitimacy in digital systems. Her goal is to contribute to more accountable and socially responsive forms of digital governance, and to support researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in engaging more critically with the ethical challenges of digitalization.
MMTC Affiliation
Maria joined JIBS and MMTC in 2022. She values MMTC’s legacy as a pioneering center in media management and transformation studies, and its continued emphasis on critical, interdisciplinary, and socially engaged research. For Maria, MMTC provides a unique space to pursue research that transcends disciplinary boundaries while addressing the complex and evolving nature of digital change.
Academic Background
Maria Arango-Kure brings an interdisciplinary and international academic background that spans media studies, human–computer interaction, business, marketing, and communications. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, she led a digital agency for over 15 years, working with mission-driven organizations to promote ethical, inclusive, and impactful digital strategies. Her commitment to social good also extends to extensive work in the nonprofit sector, where she has led and advised cross-border programs on digital transformation and responsible innovation.
