Diane Holt

Diane Holt is Chair in Entrepreneurship and Professor in the Department of Management and Organisations at Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds. She is also the Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Studies. Her academic career spans institutions including Queen’s University Belfast, Middlesex University, and the University of Essex, where she held leadership roles in research and postgraduate education.

Her educational background includes a PhD in Management from Middlesex University (2005), an MSc in Environmental Management from the University of Stirling (1993), and a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science (1991).

• PhD in Management, Middlesex University, 2005
• MSc in Environmental Management, University of Stirling, 1993
• BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science, 1991

Diane Holt’s research centers on the role of enterprises—commercial, non-profit, social, and hybrid—in sustainable development and poverty alleviation, particularly in low-income and developing contexts. Her work explores institutional and cultural-cognitive factors influencing hybrid social enterprises in sub-Saharan Africa and informal economy dynamics in subsistence markets. She investigates strategic decision-making, innovation use, stakeholder interactions, and environmental and social impacts.

Her recent publications reflect a consistent focus on social enterprise, green supply chains, inclusive growth, and youth entrepreneurship. Collectively, these works demonstrate a trajectory toward understanding how entrepreneurial initiatives can drive sustainable and equitable development. Her research combines field experimentation, cross-national data analysis, and policy engagement, with strong emphasis on real-world impact.

Her scientific awards and recognitions include:

• Finalist, 'Outstanding Academic Study in Development', International Development Awards (2013)
• Newton Fund Impact Scheme Award – Brazil (2020–2022)
• British Academy Newton Advanced Fellowship – Brazil (2016–2019)
• ESRC-NRF PhD Partnering Programme – South Africa (2015–2018)
• Nuffield Small Grant (2009)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Diane Holt has secured over £800K in external research funding from prestigious bodies including the ESRC, British Academy, British Council, Newton Fund, and Nuffield Foundation. As Principal Investigator of the Trickle Out Africa Project, she led a pan-African initiative profiling over 4,000 social purpose ventures. She has also led international PhD training networks and field experiments in Kenya and Brazil. She mentors emerging scholars through collaborative research and capacity-building programs. Her work is deeply embedded in global academic and policy networks, including contributions to United Nations reports and expert panels.

She leads and collaborates with international research teams such as the SASIE Network in South Africa and partnerships with Wits, Pretoria, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan, and UFAM in Brazil. Her team conducts field-based research on conservation agriculture in Kenya and value chain integration in the Amazon. These labs and collaborative networks emphasize interdisciplinary, action-oriented research with high societal impact.