Violina Rindova

Violina Rindova is Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and Associate Dean for Research and PhD Program at the Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine. She holds the Dean’s Leadership Circle Chair and has previously held endowed chairs at the University of Southern California and the University of Texas at Austin.

Her research centers on strategic innovation, strategy under uncertainty, and strategic foresight. Key interests include:

• Strategic Innovation
• Scenario Planning and Strategic Imagination
• Industry Disruption and Market Creation
• Corporate Reputation and Stakeholder Strategy
• Design-Based Strategies for Shaping the Future

Her scholarly work has been published in leading journals and covered by prominent media such as The Economist, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. While recent publications are not listed here, her research trajectory emphasizes socio-cognitive and cultural approaches to strategy, innovation dynamics, and reputation formation in uncertain environments.

She has received significant recognition, including:

• Thought Leadership Award, Academy of Management Entrepreneurship Division
• Outstanding Scholarly Contribution Award, Strategic Organization
• Best Paper Award, Strategic Management Society
• Journal of Management Inquiry Distinguished Scholar Award

Rindova has secured multiple research grants and has served in editorial leadership roles, including Associate Editor of Academy of Management Review and Senior Editor at Strategy Science. She mentors PhD students and leads the PhD program at UCI. She has also taught executive programs globally and consulted with firms across advertising, entertainment, insurance, food, healthcare, and education sectors.

She is affiliated with research centers including the Beall Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and contributes to advancing strategic management through academic and practical engagement.