Miriam Bird

Prof. Miriam Bird is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise at the TUM School of Management (Heilbronn Campus), leading the Global Center for Family Enterprise (GCFE). She holds a PhD from the Stockholm School of Economics (2014) and an habilitation from the University of St. Gallen (2019). Her research focuses on business succession, innovation strategies in family firms, and the socio-cultural embeddedness of entrepreneurship. Notable recognitions include the Swiss National Science Foundation Excellence Grant (2019) and multiple awards from the Academy of Management.

Education & Career: PhD in Management (2014), Stockholm School of Economics; Habilitation (2019), University of St. Gallen. Former roles include Assistant Professor and Operational Director at the Global Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (2015–2020). Visiting researcher at McGill University, University of Alberta, and HEC Montréal.

Research Interests: She explores how family dynamics influence business decisions, including succession planning, innovation adoption, and strategic governance. Her work bridges family business operations with broader entrepreneurial ecosystems, emphasizing regional and cultural contexts. Recent explorations include digital transformation in family enterprises and gender dimensions in immigrant entrepreneurship.

Awards & Grants: Recognized for contributions to entrepreneurial team dynamics (SNSF Excellence Grant), best paper awards (2015, 2017), and doctoral dissertation accolades. Her research is frequently cited in media like Forbes and Harvard Idea Watch.

Advising & Labs: As GCFE Director, she oversees interdisciplinary research initiatives and collaborates with global industry partners. Her work integrates academic insights with practical strategies for family business sustainability. She actively participates in policy forums addressing entrepreneurial innovation frameworks.