Maria Lapeira

Maria Lapeira, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Strategy and International Business at Suffolk University. She holds a PhD and MIB from Florida International University, and an MBA and BA from Universidad del Norte. Her research focuses on family businesses, emerging market multinationals, and the internationalization of Latin American firms, with particular emphasis on gender dynamics in leadership roles and their impact on firm strategy. She actively bridges academic research with practical business initiatives through collaborations with Suffolk students and organizations.

Dr. Lapeira has been recognized with the Best Reviewer Award from the Academy of Management (2021). She serves as Track Chair for the Academy of International Business Northeast Chapter (2024), Faculty Advisor for Beta Gamma Sigma honor society (Suffolk Chapter), and Session Chair for Academy of Management conferences. Her teaching expertise spans international business and general management courses.

Her recent publications explore themes like leadership legitimacy of women in family businesses, strategic internationalization decisions, and methodological advancements in mediation models. Research consistently emphasizes Latin American business contexts and gender-related organizational challenges.

Dr. Lapeira’s work integrates institutional theory, configurational approaches, and entrepreneurial resilience frameworks to address complex business challenges in globalized environments. She is committed to fostering cross-border academic-practitioner partnerships through consulting projects involving Latin American businesses.