Marya Besharov

Marya Besharov is a Professor of Organisations and Impact at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and Academic Director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship. She holds a BA, MA, and PhD from Harvard University, alongside an MBA from Stanford University. Her work focuses on leadership, social impact, and hybrid organizations, advising global entities on balancing social and financial priorities.

Education:

• PhD in Organizational Behavior, Harvard University
• MA in Sociology, Harvard University
• BA in Social Studies, Harvard University
• MBA, Stanford University

Research Interests:

Dr. Besharov’s research explores how organizations navigate competing goals, particularly in hybrid models like social enterprises. She investigates organizational identity, institutional logics, and leadership frameworks for systemic change. Her findings appear in Administrative Science Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, and Stanford Social Innovation Review.

Engagement & Teaching:

She leads executive education programs and workshops on leadership and systems change through the Skoll Centre. Her teaching emphasizes contingency-based frameworks for managing organizational complexity.

Labs & Initiatives:

Academic Director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, a global hub for social impact education and research.