University of California, Los AngelesUnited States
Christopher S. Tang is a UCLA Distinguished Professor and Edward W. Carter Chair in Business Administration at the Anderson School of Management , where he researches global supply chain management with a focus on social innovation in developing countries . He also serves as Senior Associate Dean for Global Initiatives and Faculty Director of the Center for Global Management . Education: Ph.D. in Management Science (1985, Yale University) M.Phil. in Administrative Science (1983, Yale University) M.A. in Statistics (1983, Yale University) B.Sc. in Mathematics (First Class Honors, 1981, King’s College, University of London) His research explores the intersection of corporate responsibility and supply chain innovation , addressing topics like microfinancing , mobile platforms for developing economies , direct agricultural procurement , and disaster response logistics . He emphasizes visibility, integrity, and agility in uncertain environments. Recent work highlights AI adoption benefits for supply chains , strategies to reduce forced labor risks , and policy impacts on ride-sharing platforms . His research bridges operations management and social justice , advocating for environmental stewardship alongside business growth. Scientific Awards: Salzberg Medallion (2017) Lifetime Fellow, INFORMS (2011) Responsible Research in Management Award (2017) Teaching Excellence Award (multiple years, UCLA-NUS) Dean’s Excellent Service Award (2014) As an influential adviser and consultant , Tang has worked with Amazon, HP, IBM, Nestlé, GKN , and Accenture . He has taught at Stanford University, UC Berkeley, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology , and served as visiting professor at Cambridge University and the Institute of Advanced Study at HKUST .
Shaker A. Zahra is the Robert E. Buuck Chair of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. He has served as department chair for 9 years, Director of the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship for 10 years, and Academic Co-Director of Carlson Ventures Enterprises. Previously, he held positions as Paul T. Babson Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College and Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship at Georgia State University. His educational background includes: PhD in Business Administration, Business Policy & Managerial Economics from University of Mississippi MBA (with Distinction) in Management/MIS from National University B. Commerce (with Honors) in Management from Al-Azhar University Dr. Zahra's research focuses on international entrepreneurship, corporate entrepreneurship, technological innovation in global industries, and dynamic capabilities. His work examines how firms navigate global markets, develop innovative capabilities, and create value through strategic entrepreneurship. He studies industry emergence, strategic choices in entrepreneurial firms, and the evolution of novelty in company strategies, contributing significantly to knowledge-based and dynamic capabilities perspectives. His extensive publication record spans leading journals including Academy of Management publications, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, and Journal of Business Venturing. His research covers diverse industries such as robotics, software applications, mobile applications, video games, pharmaceuticals, and nanotechnology across multiple countries including China, Brazil, India, and several European nations. Scientific recognition includes: 2014 Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research Multiple Best Paper Awards from leading journals Five honorary PhD degrees from prestigious institutions worldwide Research.com Business and Management in United States Leader Award (2022-2025) Fellowships in Academy of Management and other professional associations Dr. Zahra has advised or served on committees for over 75 PhD students and has received multiple teaching awards including the Mentor Award from the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. His leadership extends to editorial roles on over 25 journal editorial boards and service as Chair of the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. He has been a keynote speaker at more than 40 international conferences and has consulted for major global technology companies. His research projects span multiple countries and industries, examining how firms develop capabilities to compete in global markets. He has established several research centers including the Center for Integrative Leadership at the University of Minnesota and has directed major entrepreneurship research conferences including the Babson Kauffman Entrepreneurship Research Conference.
Hamsa Bastani is an Associate Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with a secondary appointment in Statistics and Data Science. She co-directs the Wharton Healthcare Analytics Lab and serves as an Associate Editor for Operations Research, M&SOM and OR Letters. Her academic journey began with summa cum laude graduation from Harvard in 2012 with an A.M. in physics and A.B. in physics and mathematics. She completed her PhD in Stanford's Electrical Engineering department under Mohsen Bayati, followed by a Herman Goldstine postdoctoral fellowship at IBM Research. Professor Bastani's research focuses on developing novel machine learning algorithms for data-driven decision-making, with applications spanning healthcare operations, social good, and revenue management. Her work demonstrates particular expertise in sequential decision-making (bandits, reinforcement learning), learning from auxiliary data sources (transfer learning, meta-learning), and designing effective human-AI interfaces (interpretability, fairness). She has made significant contributions to understanding how AI systems affect and augment human behavior, with the goal of designing AI tools that help humans thrive. Her publications reveal a strong trend toward high-impact applications of machine learning in critical societal domains. A significant portion of her recent work focuses on healthcare applications, including optimizing health supply chains in low- and middle-income countries, designing clinical trial protocols, and creating targeted public health interventions. Another major theme examines the complex relationship between humans and AI systems, particularly how AI affects learning outcomes and decision-making processes. Her work frequently bridges theoretical advances with practical implementation, as evidenced by country-scale deployments in Greece and Sierra Leone. Wagner Prize for Excellence in Operations Research Practice (2021) Pierskalla Award for Best Paper in Healthcare (2021, 2019, 2016) Behavioral OM Best Paper Award (2021) Public Sector in OR Best Paper Award (2024) INFORMS Data Mining Best Paper Award (2022) Wharton Teaching Excellence Award (2019, 2020, 2021) Professor Bastani has advised numerous PhD students who have gone on to prominent positions, including Pia Ramchandani (Director of Responsible AI at PwC), Arielle Anderer (Assistant Professor at Cornell Johnson), and Kan Xu (Assistant Professor at ASU Carey). Her research has been supported by collaborations with national governments, including the Greek government where she co-designed Eva, the national-scale reinforcement learning system for targeted COVID-19 testing, and the Government of Sierra Leone where she improved patient access to essential medicines by nearly 20% via decision-aware learning. She has also conducted the first large field study deploying generative AI tutors in high school math classes. She leads the Wharton Healthcare Analytics Lab and serves on the Steering Committee for the Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics and on the statistics advisory committee for the AHA Food is Medicine Initiative. Outside academia, she serves on the Workday AI Advisory Board, demonstrating her commitment to translating academic research into practical applications.
Dr. Omkar Prabhakar Dastane is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Postgraduate Studies at the Malaysia School of Business, Monash University Malaysia. He holds a PhD in Business from Curtin University and certifications including Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE) from CABS, UK, and HRDF-approved trainer status in Malaysia. His research focuses on technological impacts on businesses, digital consumer behavior, and customer value perception, with publications in A-ranked journals like the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services and Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing & Logistics . He has secured MYR 157,549 in research grants and received notable awards like the Best Paper Awards (2017/2018) and Emerald Literati Award (2024). Dr. Dastane has held leadership roles including Head of MBA Programs and Head of Postgraduate Studies at top-tier institutions. He actively contributes to editorial roles for journals like Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research and reviews for SSCI/SCIE-indexed publications. His teaching emphasizes strategic branding and services marketing, integrating AR/VR tools for immersive learning. He has also led educational visits across ASEAN countries. His research interests span metaverse applications in business, immersive technologies, and contemporary consumer behavior trends. Recent work explores AI-driven services, live-stream commerce, and digital transformation's role in achieving UN SDGs. He has advised on over 200 research projects and secured multiple teaching grants including the 2025 Learning & Teaching Grant.
Dr. Tan Kim Lim is a Senior Lecturer at the James Cook University (Singapore Campus), specializing in organizational psychology and consumer behavior. He holds a PhD from Curtin University (2016–2019), an MBA from the University of Melbourne (2004–2006), and a Bachelor of Business from Monash University (1999–2002). His research focuses on the future of work, employee attitudes, technology adoption in hospitality/tourism, and consumer behavior analysis. He employs advanced methodologies like PLS-SEM and has published over 47 articles in top journals like the European Business Review and Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics . Dr. Lim has held roles including Assistant Professor at BNU-HKBU United International College (2020–2022) and Post-doctoral researcher at the Human Capital Leadership Institute (2019–2021). He currently serves on editorial boards of the Journal of Responsible Tourism Management and Journal of Global Responsibilities , and is a member of the Singapore Human Resource Institute and Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychology. His applied research spans commissioned projects for governments and private entities, including studies on waste classification behavior, country music festivals, and AI adoption in social services. Awards include the JCUS Early Career Researcher Award (2023) and Emerald Literati Reviewer Award (2022). Dr. Lim also actively speaks at regional conferences on topics like AI in networking and post-pandemic workplace trends. His current research interests include STARA (Smart Technologies, AI, Robotics, Algorithms) impacts on work, meaningful work dynamics, and tourism behavior analysis. He supervises PhD students exploring AI in social services, indigenous tourism, and workplace technology adoption.
Zoran Kalinic serves as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Kragujevac, where he teaches Electronic Business since October 2012. Previously, he worked at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Kragujevac from 1996 to 2005, and joined the Faculty of Economics in February 2005 as an assistant in Information Systems, later teaching Information Technology and Electronic Business from 2009 onward. Doctorate (2012): Faculty of Engineering, University of Kragujevac, specializing in information systems development and mobile communications Postgraduate studies: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Kragujevac (completed with average grade of 10) Bachelor's degree: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Kragujevac (1996, average grade 9.43) Professor Kalinic's research focuses on digital transformation and its economic implications, with particular expertise in mobile commerce, electronic business systems, digital payment technologies, and consumer behavior in online environments. His work frequently employs advanced analytical methods including artificial neural networks, structural equation modeling, and hybrid analytical approaches to investigate technology adoption patterns and digital marketplace dynamics. He has conducted extensive research on Serbian digital markets, including studies on mobile payment systems, e-commerce development barriers, and real estate price prediction using AI techniques. His publication record demonstrates a clear progression from foundational technology acceptance research toward more complex analyses of digital ecosystems, with recent work examining influencer marketing effects on TikTok, biometric payment systems, and gig economy measurement in Serbia. The integration of artificial intelligence methodologies with traditional consumer behavior theories represents a distinctive feature of his scholarly approach. Professor Kalinic maintains active international academic engagement through short study visits to institutions including the University of Udine, Vienna University of Economics, University of Maribor, Krakow University of Economics, Coventry University, Polytechnic of Turin, and Comenius University in Bratislava. He spent six weeks at the University of Maribor in 2007 through a Tempus IMG grant and served as a visiting lecturer at the Krakow University of Economics in 2012. Author/co-author of over 60 papers in international and domestic journals and conferences Participant in multiple scientific research and professional projects Recipient of academic awards during studies from University, Faculty, Ministry of Science and Technology of Serbia, Embassy of Norway, WUS-Austria, Zastava-Yugo Automobiles, and Kragujevac City Assembly His professional development includes a month-long visit to the Faculty of Informatics at the University of the Basque Country in San Sebastian (2004) and ongoing collaboration with regional and European academic institutions. Professor Kalinic's research bridges theoretical frameworks with practical applications in the Serbian and Western Balkan digital economy context.
Sanjeev Dewan is a Professor of Information Systems and Associate Dean of Masters Programs at the Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine. He also serves as Faculty Director of the Master of Science in Business Analytics program. Prior to joining UCI in 2001, he held faculty positions at the University of Washington and George Mason University. PhD, University of Rochester MS, University of Rochester Bachelor of Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi His research focuses on the economics of digital platforms , social and mobile analytics , and the valuation of technology investments . He investigates how information technology creates business value, impacts consumer behavior, and influences firm performance. His work spans electronic markets, Web 2.0 technologies, IT productivity, and the digital divide. The most recent publications reveal a strong emphasis on empirical analysis of digital platforms , including studies on gender bias in open source communities, quality certification in the sharing economy (e.g., Airbnb), personalized ranking in app stores, and mobile health applications. His research frequently uses large-scale datasets to examine behavioral patterns, market dynamics, and the economic implications of IT innovations. Faculty Service Award for 2023-24, UCI Paul Merage School of Business Best Paper Award, INFORMS 2019 e-Business Cluster Faculty Service Award for 2016-17, UCI Paul Merage School of Business Best Paper Award, INFORMS Conference on Information Systems and Technology (2009) INFORMS Service Award (2009) INFORMS Certificate of Appreciation (2008) Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society (1991) University of Rochester Fellowship (1985–1990) Sanjeev Dewan has advised numerous PhD students who have secured faculty positions at leading institutions such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison, HKUST, Penn State, and the University of Hong Kong. His editorial service includes senior editor roles at Information Systems Research and associate editor at Management Science . He has also chaired tracks at ICIS and served as program co-chair for PACIS. There is no indication of external grant funding in the provided text, but his sustained publication record and leadership roles suggest significant research activity and institutional support. He is actively involved in academic leadership and research dissemination, contributing to major conferences and editorial boards. His work bridges theory and practice, particularly in digital platform ecosystems and analytics-driven decision-making.
Dr. Anna Grudecka is an Assistant Professor at the Warsaw School of Economics , affiliated with the Department of International Business . Her work bridges marketing, international business, and cultural studies. Research Focus: Consumer behavior in global markets, country-of-origin effects, cultural values in branding, and digital platform dynamics. Publications: Recent studies explore cross-border e-commerce, charitable crowdfunding, and the interplay of cultural values with digital marketing strategies. Her work spans 2015–2025, with recent emphasis on pandemic-related shifts and multi-sided platform economics. Awards: No scientific awards explicitly mentioned in available sources. Advising: No student names provided in public records.
Pedro Oliveira is a leading academic and administrator with diverse roles across institutions. He currently serves as Dean at Nova School of Business and Economics , where he holds the Cascais Chair in Operations, Technology, and Innovation Management . Additionally, he is a Professor MSO at Copenhagen Business School , Academic Fellow at Cornell University , and Adjunct Professor at MIT Sloan School of Management . He also founded the Patient Innovation platform and co-founded PPL Crowdfunding . Education: Ph.D. in Operations, Technology, and Innovation Management (2004), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill M.Sc. in Operations Research and Systems Engineering (2000), Instituto Superior Técnico Licenciatura in Naval Engineering (1996), Instituto Superior Técnico Research Focus: Pedro Oliveira's work centers on Open and User Innovation , Patient Innovation , and Social and Impact Innovation , with a strong emphasis on Service Operations Management and Artificial Intelligence in Innovation . His studies often bridge Technology Strategy with Healthcare and Financial Services , exploring how users can drive innovation in resource-constrained environments. Publication Trends: His recent works emphasize collaborative innovation in public and semi-public domains , patient-driven healthcare solutions , and user innovation in digital finance . He has also published extensively on knowledge commons and innovation during crises , such as the COVID-19 pandemic . Leadership and Advisory Roles: Pedro has held significant administrative roles, including Senior Associate Dean for Faculty & Research and Director of the Research Unit in Business and Economics . He has advised the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology, and Higher Education and served on the Environment & Sustainability Council at EDP Energias de Portugal . He is also the President of the Open and User Innovation Society and a counselor on the National Council for Science, Technology, and Innovation (CNCTI) and Economic and Social Council (CES) in Portugal. Labs and Teams: As founder of Patient Innovation , he has established a global platform for user-driven healthcare solutions. His work also includes collaborative digital health initiatives , such as the Saúde.Come Senior program addressing food insecurity in elderly populations through TV-based eHealth interventions.
Mette Ranta is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and University Researcher at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Education, affiliated with the Department of Educational Sciences and the Research Group for Educational Psychology. She is a key member of the DigiConsumers research consortium, funded by the Strategic Research Council, focusing on improving youth financial literacy in technologically driven societies. Previously, she held a postdoctoral researcher position at the University of Jyväskylä (2015–2018) supported by the Eino Jutikkala Fund and Finnish Academy of Sciences. Her research expertise spans educational and developmental psychology, emphasizing life course transitions, financial independence, and agency in emerging adulthood. Notable qualifications include a Docent in Educational Psychology (University of Helsinki, 2022) and a PhD in Psychology (University of Jyväskylä, 2015, awarded with distinction). She completed a Master’s in Sociology (University of Jyväskylä, 2008). Ranta collaborates extensively on projects such as the Mind Hub research group and Finnish Educational Transitions Studies , addressing youth financial well-being and societal integration. Her work has been featured in over 50 peer-reviewed publications, with recent focus on pandemic impacts, cross-cultural comparisons, and digital consumer behavior. She serves on editorial boards (e.g., Frontiers in Psychology ) and actively participates in international conferences and policy advisory roles (e.g., European Commission). Ranta’s contributions include developing digital tools for financial education and advising on policy frameworks to enhance youth resilience. Her research bridges psychological, sociological, and economic disciplines, aiming to foster inclusive and sustainable consumer practices in multicultural contexts.
Benjamin Faber is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the Department of Economics within the College of Letters and Science. His research focuses on international and development economics, exploring topics such as rural-urban migration, spatial inequality, e-commerce impacts, and responsible sourcing policies. He has held positions since 2013, including teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in development economics and international trade. Faber has organized numerous seminars including the Berkeley International Econ Seminar and Trade Work in Progress Seminar, fostering academic collaboration. His work appears in top journals like the Quarterly Journal of Economics and Review of Economic Studies, addressing welfare measurement, firm heterogeneity, and spatial economic dynamics. Notable contributions include analyzing China's highway system effects and Mexico's tourism impacts. His research often bridges theory with empirical evidence, emphasizing policy-relevant outcomes in developing economies. Education details are not explicitly listed in the provided materials, but his academic trajectory is evident through his prolific publication record and teaching roles since 2013. Faber's affiliations include the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and Center for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), with his work frequently featured in policy platforms like VoxDev.org and the World Trade Report. His research questions address critical contemporary issues such as the distributional impacts of globalization and the role of digital technologies in reducing rural-urban divides. Advising and grants information is not specified, but his extensive collaborations with global institutions and co-authors from universities like MIT, Yale, and Peking University highlight his network-driven research approach. Faber's work is methodologically rigorous, combining large-scale data analysis with theoretical frameworks to inform policy decisions on migration, trade, and development interventions.
Andrea Appolloni is an Associate Professor at the Department of Management and Law, University of Rome Tor Vergata. His academic career focuses on Management with emphasis on Sustainable Supply Chain Management , Digital Transformation , and Circular Economy . His research explores the intersection of technological innovation and sustainability, particularly through topics like AI in Logistics , Green Procurement , and Policy Optimization . Publications span both theoretical frameworks and empirical studies in China, Italy, and Malaysia, with a strong focus on environmental impact and organizational performance. Recent work includes digital twin applications for human-AI collaboration, blockchain integration in sustainable supply chains, and analyzing barriers to circular economy adoption. His 15 most recent articles (2025-2022) demonstrate a trend toward combining Artificial Intelligence , Operations Management , and Environmental Governance .
Danchi Tan is a Professor at the Department of International Business within the College of Commerce at National Chengchi University (NCCU). He has held administrative positions including Director of the Center for Business Sustainability (2023, 2025) and Department Chair (2020-2023). With a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and degrees from National Taiwan University, he has been on NCCU's faculty since 2001, progressing from Assistant to Associate to full Professor. His research focuses on International Business Management, Strategic Management, Foreign Direct Investment, and the growth patterns of Multinational Enterprises and Business Groups. Specific interests include Penrose's growth theory, emerging market expansion strategies, and the institutional drivers of corporate internationalization. Research publications demonstrate strong focus on multinational firm growth, emerging market strategies, and organizational learning in international contexts. Recent work explores sustainability impacts, neuroscientific aspects of decision-making, and corporate social responsibility dimensions in global business. Major Awards & Honors: Distinguished Professor (multiple years) NSC Outstanding Research Award Research Excellence Award Senior Excellent Teacher Award (10 & 20 years) NSC Award for Special Outstanding Talent Research Leadership: Principal Investigator for numerous National Science Council projects including studies on multinational enterprises' environmental impacts (2024-2027), foreign direct investment effects on innovation (2021-2025), and business group control mechanisms (2018-2022). Served as Convener for Management Division I at NSC (2017-2019).
Dr. Xiangming Tao is an Assistant Professor in Innovation and Project Management at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) within the University of Sussex Business School. He holds a PhD from Royal Holloway, University of London, and has served as a Visiting Scholar at Warwick Business School and Politecnico di Milano. His research focuses on innovation failure learning, new product development, and inclusive innovation, with publications in journals like Journal of Product Innovation Management and Technovation . Education: PhD - Royal Holloway, University of London MSc - Shanghai University PGCertHE - University of Sussex Research Interests: His core areas include learning from innovation failure, NPD processes, responsible innovation, crowdfunding, and social entrepreneurship. Recent work explores gender leadership impacts on innovation and failure normalization mechanisms. Awards & Recognition: AOM Best Reviewer Award (2023) Paul R. Lawrence Fellowship (2024) Most Promising Junior Scholar (VSSER 2023) Inclusive Sussex Award (2024) Teaching & Service: Teaches Strategic Management, Innovation Management, and AI Policies. Serves on BAM Entrepreneurship Division committee and ESRC Peer Review College. Advises on Postgraduate Supervision through Education and Innovation Fund grants.
Professor Jamie Carlson is a Professor of Marketing and Deputy Head of School - Research at the Newcastle Business School, University of Newcastle. His expertise lies at the intersection of marketing, consumer behavior, and technology, with a focus on how organizations can better engage customers in increasingly digital environments. He has held significant leadership roles including Assistant Dean Research and Engagement (2018-2020) and Head of Marketing Discipline (2017-2018). Professor Carlson's educational background includes: PhD (Management) from the University of Newcastle Bachelor of Business (Honours) from the University of Newcastle Bachelor of Business from the University of Newcastle Professor Carlson's research program focuses on customer experience management, particularly at the customer-technology interface. His work spans three core areas: understanding customer engagement with physical and virtual channels, examining service design and consumer behavior in service industries, and investigating consumer adoption of e-health services. He emphasizes how consumers actively shape their consumption journeys, seeking both individualized and communal brand experiences across touchpoints, and how technology both creates value and presents challenges for consumer well-being. An analysis of Professor Carlson's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on digital transformation in marketing, with particular focus on omnichannel retailing, metaverse applications, social media engagement, and the psychological aspects of consumer behavior in digital environments. His work demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting marketing with information systems, psychology, and healthcare domains to address complex consumer behavior questions in our technology-driven world. Professor Carlson has received numerous prestigious awards for his scholarly contributions: 2025 Jay Lindquist Best Conference Paper Award at the Academy of Marketing Science World Marketing Congress 2023 Best paper in Digital and Social Media Marketing Track at Academy of Marketing Multiple Top Cited/Downloaded Article recognitions from International Journal of Information Management (2022) 2022 Best paper award in the Australasian Marketing Journal Multiple best paper awards at Academy of Marketing conferences (2014-2017) 2010 Vice-Chancellor's Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning As a principal supervisor for PhD, DBA, and Honours students, Professor Carlson has mentored numerous successful researchers who have gone on to academic positions at institutions worldwide including Maastricht University (Netherlands), Dortmund University (Germany), Macquarie University, UTS, and the University of Adelaide. His students have received faculty medals, best paper awards, and the prestigious Arizona State University Center for Service Leadership Research Scholarship. His supervision focuses on customer engagement in digital media, service experience management, relationship quality, emotional appeals in advertising, and drivers of group travel behavior. Professor Carlson's research is conducted through multinational and interdisciplinary collaborations aligned with the Australian government's 'Growth Through Innovation' agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. His work connects marketing with information systems, psychology, and healthcare to develop frameworks for understanding e-service quality, online flow experiences, customer engagement, and value creation in digital environments.
