Mary Benner

Mary Benner is a Professor in the Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship Department at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, where she also serves as the Associate Dean for the Carlson Undergraduate Program and the John and Nancy Lindahl Professor for Excellence in Business Education.

• PhD in Management, Columbia University (2002)
• MBA, Stanford University (1989)
• BS in Economics, University of Minnesota (1982)

Her research focuses on organizational learning, technological innovation, and the influence of institutional pressures on firm strategy. Key areas include the intersection of strategic management and organizational theory, financial market impacts on innovation, and digital transformation across industries.

Her recent publications examine analyst influence on innovation, digitization trends in media industries, and strategic adaptation to technological change. Awards include the Academy of Management Review Decade Award, multiple Best Paper Awards, and recognition as a top undergraduate professor by Poets & Quants.

Editorial and Professional Service:

• Co-Editor, Strategic Management Journal (2023–present)
• Senior Editor, Strategy Science (2022)
• Associate Editor, Administrative Science Quarterly (2012–2021)
• Editorial Board, Academy of Management Review (2008–present)

Administrative Roles: She has held leadership positions including Department Chair of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship and Academic Director of the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship.