Andrew Leon Hanna

Andrew Leon Hanna is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he teaches the "Global Social Entrepreneurship Lab." A first-generation Egyptian-American born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Professor Hanna is also an award-winning entrepreneur, lawyer, and author with significant contributions to social entrepreneurship and refugee studies.

Professor Hanna's educational background includes:

• MBA with honors as an Arjay Miller Scholar at Stanford Graduate School of Business (Knight-Hennessy Scholar, Siebel Scholar)
• J.D. with honors from Harvard Law School (Harvard Law Review editor, Irving Oberman Memorial Prize recipient)
• A.B. with highest distinction from Duke University (Robertson Scholar, Senior Class President, Terry Sanford Leadership Award recipient)

Professor Hanna's research focuses on entrepreneurship, particularly social entrepreneurship and the intersection of business with human and civil rights. His work examines how refugee and immigrant entrepreneurs create economic opportunities in challenging circumstances, with a special emphasis on women entrepreneurs in refugee camps. He explores how social ventures can provide access to capital, distribution opportunities, product investment, and design support for undersupported small-business entrepreneurs. His research bridges academic theory with practical application through his own social ventures.

Professor Hanna's publications reveal a strong focus on refugee entrepreneurship, social impact, and inclusive economic development. His work spans academic, policy, and practical domains, connecting scholarly research with real-world implementation through social ventures like Mona and DreamxAmerica. The interdisciplinary nature of his research integrates business strategy, human rights law, and social innovation.

Professor Hanna has received numerous prestigious awards for his work:

• Financial Times Best Book of the Year (2022) for "25 Million Sparks"
• Financial Times & McKinsey Bracken Bower Prize (2018)
• Forbes 30 Under 30 List recognition
• Chicago Emmy® Award nomination for DreamxAmerica documentary
• Recognition on Fast Company's World Changing Ideas List

As an educator and practitioner, Professor Hanna has advised numerous social ventures and initiatives. He co-founded Mona, an inclusive fintech marketplace connecting underbanked small businesses to over $1 million in affordable loans and grants, and DreamxAmerica, which uses storytelling to highlight immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs. His grant-funded work includes support from Stanford's Center for Social Innovation and Alpine Social Ventures. Beyond his academic role, he has advised senior officials at the White House and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and served in the U.S. Department of Justice.

Professor Hanna leads the Global Social Entrepreneurship Lab at Chicago Booth and is actively involved with his social ventures Mona and DreamxAmerica. Through Mona, he has created a global social venture that provides undersupported small-business entrepreneurs with access to capital, distribution opportunities, product investment, and design support. His work connects academic research with practical implementation in the social entrepreneurship space.