Albena Pergelova

Dr. Albena Pergelova serves as Associate Professor in the Department of International Business, Marketing, Strategy and Law at MacEwan University's School of Business, Edmonton. Joining in December 2009, she currently holds sabbatical leave status while maintaining active research and teaching roles. Her academic foundation includes a PhD in Marketing from Autonomous University of Barcelona (2010) and Bulgarian degrees from the University of National and World Economy.

• PhD in Marketing, Autonomous University of Barcelona (2010)
• M.Sc. in Marketing, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria
• BBA in Marketing, University of National and World Economy, Sofia, Bulgaria

Her research bridges marketing and entrepreneurship with emphasis on technology-driven empowerment. Key investigations examine interactive media's role in consumer-organization dynamics, internationalization strategies of new ventures, and gender-specific entrepreneurial pathways. She particularly explores how digital tools democratize opportunities for underrepresented groups including female entrepreneurs and emerging-market innovators.

Publications from 2018-2023 reveal consistent focus on technology's societal impact, with recurring themes of gender equity in international business, ethical entrepreneurship in indigenous contexts, and social media's transformative advertising effects. Her work demonstrates methodological diversity across quantitative SME studies and qualitative emancipation-focused frameworks.

Research accolades include multiple Best Paper Awards from DIANA International Research Conference (2017), China Goes Global Conference (2017), and three Academy of Marketing recognitions (2008-2012), plus the G. Dale Meyer Social Entrepreneurship Award (2017).

• Commendable Research Paper Award, Eastern Academy of Management (2019)
• Best Paper Awards: DIANA International (2017), China Goes Global (2017)
• G. Dale Meyer Social Entrepreneurship Award (2017)
• Academy of Marketing Best Paper Awards (2008, 2009, 2012)

Dr. Pergelova actively supervises senior student independent studies with real-world project collaborations involving local nonprofits and businesses. Her grant-funded research appears in top journals including Journal of Business Research and Journal of Advertising, supported by continuous peer-review contributions to major conferences.

As Social Innovation Institute Steering Committee member, she integrates academic research with community-focused entrepreneurial initiatives across Edmonton.