Nelson Phillips

Nelson Phillips is the Christian A. Felipe Professor, Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, and Distinguished Professor in Technology Management at the University of California Santa Barbara’s College of Engineering. He advises the Ph.D. program and holds affiliations with the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation and the Centre for Responsible Leadership. Originally from Canada, he earned a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Calgary, followed by a Ph.D. in Organizational Analysis from the University of Alberta. His career includes roles as Beckwith Professor at Cambridge University and Professor of Innovation & Strategy at Imperial College London, where he served as Associate Dean of External Relations.

Phillips’ research bridges organizational theory, innovation, and technology, focusing on themes like institutional complexity, entrepreneurial framing, and corporate corruption. He co-authored the award-winning book *Constructing Organizational Life* and is currently developing works on qualitative methods and linguistic analysis in management. His editorial roles include Co-Editor of *Innovation: Management and Organization* and governance positions at the Academy of Management.

• Education:
  • B.Sc. Electrical Engineering, University of Calgary
  • MBA, University of Calgary
  • Ph.D. Organizational Analysis, University of Alberta

His work examines how organizations navigate institutional conflicts, leveraging hybrid spaces to reconcile competing logics. Recent research explores technology entrepreneurs’ decision-making under hype, moral legitimacy in stakeholder engagement, and corruption mechanisms in global enterprises. Phillips’ articles frequently analyze categorical legitimacy struggles, AI’s societal implications, and digital activism.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2021 George R. Terry Book Award
• 2018 Joanne Martin Trailblazer Award
• 2021 Academy of Management Fellow

Advisory & Editorial Roles:

• Co-Editor, *Innovation: Management and Organization*
• Board of Governors, Academy of Management
• Advisory Board, Society for the Advancement of Management Studies

His executive education engagements span corporate clients like Barclays, Panasonic, and the UAE government.