Stephan Manning

Stephan Manning is a Professor of Strategy and Innovation at the University of Sussex Business School, specializing in responses to global societal challenges, social innovation, and global value chains. His research explores how businesses and organizations address issues like sustainability, poverty, and environmental concerns through innovative strategies and cross-sector collaborations. He has conducted fieldwork in multiple countries, including Kenya, South Africa, and Guatemala, and his work has been published in top-tier journals such as the Strategic Management Journal and Journal of Management Studies.

Education Affiliations:

• PhD and academic career spanning institutions like Duke University, University of Massachusetts Boston, and Free University Berlin.
• Active collaborations with organizations like the Institute of Development Studies and the Science Policy Research Unit at Sussex.

Research Interests:

• Social innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly impact sourcing and marginalized youth empowerment.
• Global value chains, focusing on emerging economies' participation and sustainability standards.
• Impact film production as a tool for social change, blending academic research with filmmaking.
• Decolonizing authenticity and postcolonial studies in global contexts, exemplified by work on Peruvian cuisine.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2022 Strategic Organization Best Paper Award for impactful work on crowdfunding storytelling.
• 2017 Journal of Management Studies Best Paper Award for sustainability research in coffee.
• Multiple Emerald Management Reviews citations and Academy of Management Impact Awards.

Advising & Grants:

• Supervises PhD students in topics like film's role in social change and sustainable development goals.
• Recipient of the RM Phillips Foundation grant for strategic responses to global challenges.
• Co-founded the Responsible Business Research Group at Sussex, hosting seminars on ethics and sustainability.

Labs & Initiatives:

• Collaborates with the Social Innovation Academy (Uganda) and Maharishi Institute (South Africa) to support marginalized entrepreneurs.
• Invests in social enterprises like Jijenge Academy (Kenya) promoting digital work for disadvantaged youth.
• Partners with SOS Children's Villages to sponsor children globally, combining academic rigor with humanitarian efforts.