Tyler Wry is an Associate Professor of Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania . His research focuses on hybrid ventures and social enterprises that balance conflicting commercial and social goals. He has published in top-tier journals such as Academy of Management Annals , Academy of Management Journal , and Organization Science . He serves on the editorial boards of Administrative Science Quarterly , Academy of Management Journal , and Academy of Management Review . Research Highlights : Hybrid organizations, social entrepreneurship, nanotechnology startups, disaster philanthropy, microfinance dynamics, institutional logics, and strategic adaptation during crises. Teaching : Courses on entrepreneurship, social impact, venture creation, and research methods, including project-based learning and hands-on venture development. Scientific Awards include the IACMR Presidential Award, ONE/NBS Research Impact Award, Carolyn Dexter Award, and multiple best paper recognitions. His work has also been recognized through fellowships and teaching awards. Notable Contributions : Demonstrated how corporate disaster involvement accelerates recovery, how patriarchal societal logics affect microfinance lending to women, and how contextual factors shape social-financial tradeoffs in hybrid organizations.
Charles D. Piot is a Professor and Bass Fellow in the Department of Cultural Anthropology at Duke University's Arts & Sciences. His work spans contemporary culture and politics, histories of slavery and colonialism, and transnational African diasporic studies. Ph.D., University of Virginia (1986) M.A., University of Virginia (1982) B.A., Princeton University (1973) Research focuses on francophone West Africa , particularly Togo, with theoretical contributions to modernity , biopolitics , postcolonialism , and transnational migration . He explores how globalization, NGOs, and religious movements reshape sovereignty and social structures. Recent work examines urban informality and economic resilience in African microenterprises. His publications include award-winning books Nostalgia For the Future (2010) and Remotely Global (1999), alongside peer-reviewed articles on topics ranging from visa lottery systems to ethnographic theory. As co-editor of Cultural Anthropology (2011-2015), he advanced open-access publishing initiatives. Scientific awards include the African Politics Conference Group Award for Best Book on African Politics (2010) Royal Anthropological Institute's Amaury Talbot Prize (1999) African Studies Association's Herskovits Prize finalist (1999)
Ezequiel Reficco is an Associate Professor at ESCP Business School's Madrid campus, specializing in Management. Previously, he served as Associate Professor at EGADE Business School (Tecnológico de Monterrey) and Chair of the Strategy Department at Universidad de Los Andes School of Management (Bogotá, Colombia). His academic journey includes a post-doctoral fellowship and Senior Researcher role at Harvard Business School (2001–2008). He co-authored books with Harvard University Press and published extensively in journals like the Journal of Business Ethics and Harvard Business Review . He is recognized globally for his research output, ranking among the top 10% of SSRN authors and #108 in Colombia's most cited researchers (2015). His research focuses on responsible management education, corporate social responsibility (CSR), inclusive business models, and strategic cross-sector partnerships. Key areas include leveraging business strategies to address poverty (BoP markets), fostering sustainability through innovation, and redesigning educational curricula for ethical leadership. His work bridges theory and practice, with consulting engagements for multilateral organizations and corporations like Inditex (owner of Zara). Notable achievements include awards from Universidad de Los Andes and Tecnológico de Monterrey for research excellence. He actively contributes to policy debates on social entrepreneurship and global development, emphasizing Latin American contexts. His recent articles highlight trends toward integrating CSR into core business operations and rethinking educational frameworks to address global challenges. Professional roles beyond academia include membership in Inditex's Social Council, advising on ethical practices and sustainability initiatives. His career reflects a commitment to aligning business strategies with societal impact, particularly in underserved markets and developing regions.
Kiran Pedada is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, and holds the F. Ross Johnson Fellow and The Associates Fellow in Marketing and Inclusive Business. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at the Indian School of Business (ISB) and a Visiting Scholar at the University of North Carolina. He has been recognized as ISB’s Teacher of the Year (2020 and 2021) and named a top MBA professor by BusinessBecause. His research focuses on marketing strategy, digital transformation, emerging markets, and inclusive business practices. Dr. Pedada earned his Ph.D. in Marketing from Texas Tech University, where he won the Helen Devitt Jones Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award. His doctoral work on international marketing alliances in emerging markets won the prestigious AMS Mary Kay Inc. Doctoral Dissertation Award. Before academia, he worked in management consulting and corporate strategy. Research Interests : Marketing strategy in digital environments Social and financial impact of marketing Global marketing expansion via digital ecosystems Emerging markets dynamics Brand competitiveness through digital orientation Key Contributions : His research has been published in top journals like Journal of Marketing Research and Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. He co-authored cases on digital transformation for Harvard Business Publishing and serves on editorial boards of key marketing journals. His work has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, and CNN. Awards : AMS Mary Kay Inc. Doctoral Dissertation Award (2019) F. Ross Johnson Fellowship Teacher of the Year (ISB, 2020 & 2021) He actively advises on digital readiness of SMEs and ESG integration in alliances. His current projects explore metaverse applications and rural microentrepreneurship in India.
Prof. Dr. Mona Mensmann is an Associate Professor of Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Cologne , School of Business and Social Sciences. Her research bridges entrepreneurship with psychology, focusing on entrepreneurial mindset, proactive behavior, and training curricula. Current: Associate Professor (W2), University of Cologne (2021–) Previous: Associate/Assistant Professor at Warwick Business School (2018–2021) Education: PhD in Psychology, Leuphana University (2013–2017); MSc in Psychology, University of Heidelberg (2011–2013) Mensmann’s research explores the psychological foundations of entrepreneurship, including the impact of cognitive traits (e.g., ADHD, need for cognition) on entrepreneurial intentions and outcomes. She emphasizes personal initiative training as a tool for poverty reduction and sustainable business development, particularly in West Africa and developing economies. Her publications span peer-reviewed journals like Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice and Science , focusing on topics such as sleep quality’s influence on founders, training program effectiveness, and lifespan entrepreneurship. She has also contributed to academic book chapters and conference proceedings.
Rachel M Heath is a Professor of Economics at the University of Washington with tenure since 2024. She specializes in development economics with particular focus on labor markets in developing countries and gender economics . Her groundbreaking research examines how female labor force participation in Bangladesh and other developing nations affects marriage decisions , educational attainment , and domestic violence rates . Alberta C. Corkery Professor of Economics PhD from Yale University Co-editor with multiple institutions Her research has significant policy implications for international development , particularly through her work on garment industry impacts in Bangladesh following the Rana Plaza collapse. Current working papers explore harassment monitoring in organizations and digital financial services for women's empowerment in Tanzania. Recipient of Milliman Distinguished Scholar award World Bank Economic Review refereeing excellence Multiple grants from International Growth Centre Professor Heath has advised numerous graduate students including Zhe Liu and Andres Sanchez , and serves on multiple academic advisory boards including the Women’s Economic Empowerment and Digital Connectivity initiatives. She regularly presents at major conferences like the American Economic Association Annual Meeting and World Bank events.
David Lewis is a Professor of Social Policy and Development at the London School of Economics (LSE), specializing in South Asia and Bangladesh. His work bridges anthropology and development studies, focusing on NGOs, civil society, and the historical dimensions of development policy. He has advised international agencies like Sida, DFID, and UNDP, and his research explores 'policy amnesia' and the interplay between development narratives and grassroots realities. Research Interests Anthropology of Policy NGO Effectiveness and Critique South Asian Development Dynamics Historical Analysis of Development Interventions Entrepreneurship Advice in Bangladesh/Sri Lanka Professional Engagements Consultant for major development organizations Author/editor of influential texts including Bangladesh: Politics, Economy and Civil Society (2011) and New Mediums, Better Messages? (2022) Editor of Popular Representations of Development (2013), analyzing media's role in shaping development perceptions His work critiques top-down development paradigms while emphasizing historical context and local agency.
Krisztina Kis-Katos serves as Professor for International Economic Policy at the University of Göttingen's Department of Economics, a position she assumed in 2016. She holds prominent leadership roles including Chairwoman of the Standing Field Committee of Development Economics of the German Economic Association (Verein für Socialpolitik) and Chairwoman of the Scientific Advisory Board of the RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research. Her institutional affiliations extend to research fellowships at IZA and RWI, along with editorial positions at the Journal of Labour Market Research, European Journal of Political Economy, Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, and Journal of Development Studies. Professor Kis-Katos earned her Economics education in Szeged and Konstanz, attended the Swiss Doctoral Program at the Study Center Gerzensee, and received her doctoral degree from the University of Freiburg in 2010. Her scholarly work spans applied development economics and political economy with particular focus on how (de-)globalization and macroeconomic processes affect social and economic outcomes including labor markets, firm performance, land use change, deforestation, and conflict. Her research portfolio reveals consistent thematic threads across recent publications: the intersection of environmental concerns with economic development (particularly deforestation and palm oil in Indonesia), the gendered impacts of trade liberalization, the socioeconomic effects of pandemics like COVID-19, and the complex relationship between governance, corruption, and economic outcomes. Methodologically, her work combines rigorous econometric approaches with innovative data sources including satellite imagery and high-frequency power usage data. Teaching prize for the best doctoral course in RTG 1723, University of Göttingen (2019) Teaching prize of the Student Union of Economics of the University of Freiburg (2014) BMZ/GIZ Public Policy Award (2013) Friedrich-August-von-Hayek-award (2011) Excellence award of the KfW Development Bank (2011) Professor Kis-Katos leads multiple significant research initiatives including the BMZ-DEval funded evaluation of Madagascar's forest restoration program, the DFG-funded Thailand-Vietnam Socioeconomic Panel, and the DFG Research Training Group on Sustainable Food Systems. Her advisory role extends to supervising doctoral candidates through these projects and previously serving as spokesperson for the Research Training Group 1723 on Globalization and Development. Her substantial grant portfolio demonstrates strong research leadership across international collaborations involving institutions in Germany, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United States. Her work connects closely with the Collaborative Research Centre 990 on Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation Systems in Sumatra, Indonesia, reflecting her deep engagement with environmental-economic research questions in Southeast Asia. She also contributes to interdisciplinary teams through projects like PlanetHealth examining global land-use impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Natalie Carlson is an Assistant Professor of Management at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Her work bridges entrepreneurship, human capital, and computational methods with a focus on emerging economies. Ph.D., Management - Columbia Business School B.A., Economics - Yale University Research Interests: Entrepreneurship in informal economies Impact of immigrant talent on multinational strategies Text-as-data and machine learning methodologies Field experiments in Zimbabwe and Colombia Notable Scientific Awards: Wharton Teaching Excellence Award (2021-2024) Kauffman Dissertation Fellowship (2017-2018) Deming Center Doctoral Fellowship (2018-2019) Her work analyzes productivity drivers in microenterprises and explores computational approaches to leadership communication. She teaches courses on global growth of emerging firms at undergraduate and MBA levels.
Susan Gail Sherman, PhD, MPH, is a Professor in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She holds joint appointments in Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Epidemiology, and Mental Health departments. Dr. Sherman is Co-Director of the Baltimore HIV Collaboratory and part of the Executive Leadership Committee of the Johns Hopkins Center for AIDS Research. She co-leads the Addiction and Overdose workgroup of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative and serves on Baltimore City and state advisory commissions on syringe exchange and overdose prevention initiatives. Dr. Sherman earned her PhD from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2000, MPH from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1996, and BA from University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1989. Her research focuses on improving the health of marginalized populations, particularly drug users and sex workers, with emphasis on structural drivers of health. She has over 17 years of experience developing and evaluating HIV prevention, peer-outreach behavioral, and microenterprise interventions in Baltimore, Pakistan, Thailand, and India. Her research spans the intersection of public health and public safety, harm reduction evidence for drug policy, economic development as HIV prevention, and structural determinants of health. Dr. Sherman is PI of studies examining police roles in the STI/HIV risk environment of street-based sex workers and evaluating innovative pre-booking diversion programs for low-level drug offenders. She is also developing a full-service drop-in center for sex workers in Baltimore. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on harm reduction, opioid crisis interventions, structural determinants of health, and the intersection of public health and law enforcement. Her work increasingly addresses gender-specific vulnerabilities, particularly among women who use drugs and sex workers, while maintaining a strong commitment to evidence-based policy solutions. 2011 Advising, Mentoring & Teaching Recognitions Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 2006 Advising, Mentoring & Teaching Recognitions Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 2002 Delta Omega Society 1997-2000 NIMH Predoctoral Training Grantee, Office of AIDS Dr. Sherman has received significant grant funding for her work, including the FORECAST (Fentanyl Overdose Reduction Checking Analysis Study) and the SAPPHIRE (Sex Workers and Police Promoting Health in Risky Environments) study. She serves as PI for multiple projects examining structural interventions with sex workers and drug users in Baltimore. Her research portfolio includes international work in Pakistan, Thailand, and India on HIV prevention and microenterprise interventions. Dr. Sherman is actively involved with the Center for AIDS Research, Center for Global Health, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, and Center for Sexually Transmitted Diseases Research, Prevention and Training. She serves as Board Secretary of the National Harm Reduction Coalition and is deeply engaged with community-based organizations working with marginalized populations.
Dr Aastha Malhotra is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Psychology and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), specializing in social enterprise and human services. With over 20 years of global experience, her work focuses on bridging academia and practice through transformational leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement. Research: Social impact evaluation, migrant/refugee inclusion, health equity, and participatory approaches. Grants: Funded by DFAT, Advance Queensland, and Queensland Government for projects on social innovation and leader wellbeing. Awards: 2015 ANZAM award winner for nonprofit research. Leadership: Coordinates higher degree research and leads UniSQ's Social Innovation and Inclusion theme. Her work spans Asia, North America, and Australia, emphasizing cross-sector partnerships and sustainable solutions for marginalized communities.
Munir Squires is an Assistant Professor at the Vancouver School of Economics , University of British Columbia. His research focuses on development economics and economic history , particularly kinship systems, cultural norms, and the socioeconomic effects of cousin marriage. Education: PhD from the London School of Economics Contact: Email: Munir.Squires@ubc.ca , Office: Iona Building 257 Research Interests: Dr. Squires examines how kinship structures influence economic outcomes, including taxation, growth, and cooperative behaviors. His work spans historical data analysis, cultural economics, and experimental studies in developing economies. Recent Publications: His research trends include analyzing kinship taxation in Kenyan microenterprises, health impacts of cousin marriage, and historical census data methodologies. He also explores the intersection of mobile money networks and traditional financial systems in Africa. Teaching: He instructs ECON 442 (Issues in Economic Development) , covering topics like global economic divergence, poverty, institutional impacts, and labor/credit market dynamics.
Michael H. Morris is Professor of the Practice at the University of Notre Dame , serving within the Keough School of Global Affairs and its McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business . He is an internationally recognized scholar and educator in entrepreneurship, with a special focus on social entrepreneurship and poverty alleviation. Education : Morris earned his PhD in marketing from Virginia Tech in 1983, laying the foundation for his lifelong academic and applied work in entrepreneurship. His research interests span a wide range of entrepreneurship-related areas, including new venture creation , social entrepreneurship , entrepreneurship and poverty , entrepreneurial marketing , opportunity recognition , and resourcing strategies . He is particularly known for his work on entrepreneurship education and experiential learning , having built three university entrepreneurship programs ranked among the top 10 in the U.S. His recent publications reveal a consistent focus on entrepreneurship as a response to poverty , racial identity and entrepreneurship , and the structural challenges faced by disadvantaged entrepreneurs . These works collectively contribute to a growing body of knowledge on inclusive entrepreneurship and the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities. Awards and Recognition : Max S. Wortman, Jr. Award for Lifetime Achievement in Entrepreneurship Academy of Management Dedication to Entrepreneurship Award Leavey Award from the Freedoms Foundation 2021 Legacy Award from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers USASBE Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year (2012) Fortune Small Business Top 20 Entrepreneurship Professor Fulbright Scholar Community Engagement and Programs : Morris has founded and directs several impactful initiatives: Global Partnership for Poverty and Entrepreneurship – a consortium for scholars and practitioners Urban Poverty and Business Initiative – supports low-income urban entrepreneurs Entrepreneurship Empowerment in South Africa Program – student engagement in Cape Town South Bend Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program – over 400 graduates He also leads The Experiential Classroom , a global clinic for entrepreneurship educators, and has served as President of the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) .
Dr. Franz-Karl Skala is a Senior Lecturer at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) in the Business Education department, with over 15 years of academic and professional experience in higher education. He has held teaching and research positions at institutions including the University of Graz, University of Applied Sciences Burgenland, and Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt. Current Senior Lecturer at WU (since 2012) Teaching focus on programming didactics and e-learning Specializes in business informatics didactics and vocational training Research interests center on curriculum development for hybrid education models, digital transformation in business training, and vocational education reform. His recent FLUENT project (2022-2025) develops flexible universal education models for AI-era learning. He has secured multiple Erasmus+ grants for international education initiatives in Central Asia. Scientific awards include four Vienna University of Economics and Business Innovative Teaching Awards (2020, 2019, 2017, 2010), University of Graz teaching excellence recognition (2020), AK Science Prize (2013), and Leopold-Kunschak Science Prize (2013). Developed modular curriculum frameworks Created e-learning platforms for entrepreneurs Conducted comparative studies on vocational vs academic degrees
James O. Fiet is a Professor of Management and the Brown-Forman Chair in Entrepreneurship at the University of Louisville College of Business . His work bridges strategy and entrepreneurship , with over 175 publications and leadership roles in academia. Education : PhD in Entrepreneurship & Strategic Management (Texas A&M), MBA in Entrepreneurship (USC), BA in English (Brigham Young University) His research spans entrepreneurship theory , strategic management , and social enterprises , focusing on institutional logics, poverty alleviation, and time-space dynamics. Recent publications include Time, Space and Entrepreneurship (2021) and Poverty Alleviation and the Science of What's Possible (forthcoming 2022). Scientific recognition includes being ranked 5th most productive U.S. entrepreneurship researcher (2009) and 8th globally . He served as editor of Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice , the #2 cited business journal globally. Awards: Top 1% entrepreneurship researcher (2021), Top 2% scientist worldwide (2021), Emerald Certificate of Excellence (2017).
