Cristina Stoian

Dr Cristina Stoian is a Reader in International Business and Director of Postgraduate Research at Brunel Business School, Brunel University London, within the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences. She is affiliated with the Strategy, Entrepreneurship and International Business (SEIB) research group and contributes significantly to academic and professional discourse on SME internationalization and global entrepreneurship.

Her research focuses on international business, entrepreneurship, and international marketing strategies, particularly in the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Key themes include knowledge-based perspectives, dynamic capabilities, sustainable development, cultural diversity, and the role of digital technologies in internationalization. She has published extensively in top-tier journals such as International Business Review, Journal of Small Business Management, and International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research.

Her recent publications highlight trends in SME foreign market entry, post-entry growth of born globals, CSR in SMEs, and systematic reviews of knowledge-based approaches. These works reflect a strong interdisciplinary focus combining strategic management, organizational capabilities, and international marketing.

• Best Paper Award at British Academy of Management Conference (International Business and International Management track)

Dr Stoian has secured research funding as Principal Investigator from the ISBE/RAKE Award (supported by ESRC and Barclays Bank) and internal Brunel grants, and as Co-Investigator on projects funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports. She welcomes PhD applications in international entrepreneurship, SME internationalization, knowledge approaches, sustainable development, returnee entrepreneurship, and digital technologies in global business. She has served on advisory bodies including the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s International Trade Committee and The Institute of Export and International Trade.

She is actively involved in professional networks and collaborates with researchers such as Dr Janja Tardios, Dr Marios Samdanis, and Dr Xiaoqing Li. Her work bridges academic research and practical applications for SME managers navigating global markets.