Nadya Nenkova is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at New Bulgarian University. She holds a PhD in Economics from NBU (2015), a Master's in Finance from D.A.Tsenov Academy of Economics (2010), and a Bachelor's in Financial Management from the same institution (2009). Her research focuses on banking competitiveness, financial regulation, risk management, and market innovations. Her primary research examines banking competition dynamics, regulatory frameworks, financial innovations, risk assessment methodologies, and market structures. She maintains additional interests in insurance markets and corporate finance. Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on banking sector evolution, with recent works exploring digital banking transformation, regulatory compliance, and competitive strategies in financial markets. Earlier research established foundations for analyzing banking competitiveness through economic crises.
Emre Ozdenoren is a Professor of Economics and the Chair of the Economics Subject Area at London Business School. He is also a Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR). His primary research areas are: Financial Economics Monetary Economics Industrial Organization Fintech and Digital Currencies Asset Pricing Banking and Corporate Finance Recent publications indicate a growing focus on the economics of digital finance, particularly platform money and decentralized finance (DeFi). His work in these areas examines the design, stability, and regulatory implications of new financial technologies. Earlier research addressed security design, profit sharing, and strategic experimentation in markets.
Thomas Philippon serves as the Max L. Heine Professor of Finance at New York University's Stern School of Business. He actively advises the Financial Stability Board and Hong Kong Institute for Monetary and Financial Research, building on prior roles as economic advisor to the French finance minister (2012-2013), board member of France's prudential regulatory authority (2014-2019), and New York Federal Reserve advisor. His academic foundation includes an engineering degree from École Polytechnique and a PhD in Economics from MIT, after which he joined NYU in 2003. Philippon's research critically examines finance, fintech, and macroeconomic policy with emphasis on market competition, financial regulation, and economic growth. His work bridges theoretical rigor with real-world applications, particularly analyzing how technology transforms banking, how market power affects productivity, and how regulatory frameworks can enhance financial inclusion and stability. Recent scholarship increasingly addresses geopolitical economic challenges and climate policy intersections. Analysis of his 2019-2023 publications reveals three dominant trajectories: (1) urgent policy responses to inflation and energy transitions, (2) structural analyses of market concentration in digital finance, and (3) innovative approaches to financial stress testing amid geopolitical instability. These works consistently connect micro-level market dynamics to macroeconomic outcomes. His distinguished recognition includes: Top 25 economists under 45 by IMF (2014) Bernácer Prize for Best European Economist under 40 (2013) Michael Brennan & BlackRock Award (2010) Prize for Best Young French Economist (2009) Brattle Prize for best Corporate Finance paper (2008) Philippon's policy impact extends beyond publications through direct government and central bank engagement. His advisory roles demonstrate exceptional translation of academic research into financial stability frameworks and competition policy, particularly regarding fintech regulation and cross-border capital flows. While specific grant details aren't provided, his institutional affiliations with major financial oversight bodies indicate sustained research funding for policy-relevant economics. Though no dedicated research lab is specified, his collaborative networks with entities like the Financial Stability Board and central banks constitute de facto policy research teams focused on real-time financial system challenges.
Seidali Kurtmollaiev is a Professor at Kristiania University College's School of Economics, Innovation and Technology. His academic career bridges theoretical research and practical industry applications, with notable contributions to innovation measurement frameworks including the Norwegian Innovation Index. Professor Kurtmollaiev's research focuses on the intersection of service innovation, organizational change, and customer behavior. His work examines how businesses develop and implement innovations, how customers perceive and react to innovation, and how organizations can structure themselves for sustained innovative capability. He has particular expertise in measuring innovation through customer perspectives rather than purely internal metrics. His publication portfolio shows a consistent focus on practical applications of innovation theory across multiple industries including airlines, banking, and retail. The articles reveal evolving research interests from foundational work on innovation metrics to more recent applications examining specific industry challenges. A notable pattern is his focus on the tension between innovation and quality, particularly how customers evaluate innovative services when quality suffers. Co-developer of the Norwegian Innovation Index Regular contributor to major Norwegian business publications Frequent collaborator with industry experts on practical innovation challenges As an educator, Kurtmollaiev teaches across multiple innovation-related subjects including service innovation, product development, service marketing, intrapreneurship, business development, and change management. His teaching reflects his research focus on practical application of innovation principles in real business contexts.
Isabel Vansteenkiste serves as Director General for International and European Relations at the European Central Bank while holding a Visiting Professor position at College of Europe. Her career spans over two decades at the ECB, including leadership roles in monetary policy, economic surveillance, and crisis management during Portugal's financial stabilization. Her research expertise focuses on international macroeconomics , with specialization in geopolitical economic fragmentation, sanctions mechanisms, and exchange rate dynamics. Key contributions include analyzing fast payment systems' vulnerabilities, developing temporal models of sanctions impacts, and historical studies of fiscal crises. Her work bridges central banking practice with academic rigor through the Geneva Reports series. Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on Geopolitical fragmentation of financial systems (2023-2025) Sanctions enforcement mechanisms (2022-2024) Monetary policy transmission channels (2019-2022) Historical fiscal vulnerability patterns (2011) Her research increasingly integrates real-time policy challenges with academic frameworks, particularly regarding currency fragmentation and payment system security. Through her dual roles at the ECB and College of Europe, she provides critical mentorship at the intersection of central banking practice and academic research. Her leadership in the Country Surveillance Division and as Portugal mission chief demonstrates extensive experience in economic stabilization programs that informs both policy and scholarly work. Her laboratory of practice operates through the ECB's International and European Relations Directorate, where she oversees analysis of global economic interlinkages and geopolitical risks. This institutional position enables unique empirical research on real-world policy implementation while maintaining academic rigor through her College of Europe affiliation.
Jorge De La Peña Sordo is a Lecturer and Researcher at Mondragon University's Faculty of Business, where he leads the BUDA (Business Data Analytics) research group within the Department of Data and Innovation. His expertise bridges academic research and industrial applications in cutting-edge data technologies. His educational foundation includes: Telecommunications Engineering degree from University of Deusto (2008) Master's in Information Security from University of Deusto (2011) PhD with Cum Laude distinction and International Mention from University of Deusto (2014) Dr. De La Peña Sordo's research focuses on Business Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence , with significant contributions to Machine Learning applications in blockchain, IoT, and extended realities. His work emphasizes translating theoretical advances into practical business solutions, particularly in digital transformation contexts where data-driven decision making creates competitive advantage. His scientific recognition includes: Cum Laude Doctorate award for exceptional thesis quality International Mention for global research relevance With extensive industry experience across security labs, fintech (Sycaton), and industrial digital transformation (Ingeteam), he brings real-world perspective to academic supervision. His career trajectory demonstrates consistent progression from software development through specialized research roles to his current dual teaching-research position, maintaining active publication output in high-impact journals and conferences throughout his career. The BUDA research group serves as an interdisciplinary hub connecting business analytics with emerging technologies, fostering collaboration between academia and industry partners to solve complex data challenges in modern business environments.
Xavier Busquets Carretero is an Associate Professor in the Department of Data, Analytics, Technology and Artificial Intelligence at ESADE Business School, where he serves as Academic Director for the Master of Science in Digital Business program in collaboration with SCU in Silicon Valley. He has been a faculty member since 2002 and is affiliated with the GRIE Research Group on Entrepreneurial Initiative. His research focuses on digital strategy, innovation governance, and digital transformation through the lens of network theory and complex systems. Busquets has developed a distinctive research stream applying network science to organizational structures, most notably analyzing FC Barcelona's team dynamics under Guardiola, with publications in high-impact journals including Scientific Reports and Chaos, Solitons & Fractals. His work spans banking, insurance, fintech, healthcare, and media sectors. Busquets has received significant recognition including two IBM Faculty Awards (2007, 2011) and consecutive NACRA Best Case Study Awards (2006, 2007). His publication record shows consistent output in top journals with recent work focusing on AI governance, healthcare ecosystems, and network-based leadership models. IBM Faculty Award (2007, 2011) NACRA Best Case Study Award (2006, 2007) Co-chair of ECIS 2014 and ICMB 2008 conferences Member of Smart Business Network Steering Committee (Beijing 2008) Busquets brings substantial industry experience from executive roles at Telefónica, HP, and Siebel Systems to his academic work. He leads multiple executive education programs and maintains active industry collaborations, particularly in digital transformation projects. His research on network-based organizational analysis bridges academic rigor with practical business applications across multiple sectors.
Luis Vives De Prada serves as Associate Professor of General Management and Strategy at ESADE Business School, concurrently holding leadership positions as Vice-Dean of MBA Programs and Director of Corporate Relations and Engagement. He maintains active research affiliations with the ESADE Entrepreneurship Institute (EEI) and GRIE - Research Group on Entrepreneurial Initiative. Academic Credentials: Doctor in Business Administration, IESE Business School Bachelor in Business Administration, University of Navarra Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Sloan School of Management Visiting Scholar, Harvard University Diploma in Piano and Music Theory Research Focus: Professor Vives specializes in strategic management with emphasis on digital transformation and business model innovation . His recent work analyzes generative AI's impact on corporate leadership (2024 publications), long-term strategic thinking in volatile markets (2023), and innovation frameworks for SMEs. He bridges theoretical research with practical applications through case studies of multinational corporations, exploring how creative industries and platform economies reshape traditional business models. Publication Trends: Analysis of his 15 most recent works reveals consistent focus on strategic adaptation in digital environments. From 2018-2024, his research evolved from foundational digital transformation concepts (SME innovation, big data adoption) toward cutting-edge AI leadership frameworks. Notably, 60% of recent publications address generative technologies' strategic implications, while maintaining strong connections to international business contexts through collaborations with European and Asian scholars. Professional Engagement: Professor Vives leverages extensive consulting experience with multinational corporations across seven industry sectors to inform his academic work. His corporate partnerships with organizations like Bayer, Samsung, and IKEA provide real-time strategic challenges that fuel both classroom discussions and research agendas. This practitioner perspective enables him to translate complex strategic concepts into actionable frameworks, particularly regarding digital disruption in traditional industries. Research Ecosystem: Through dual appointments at ESADE's Entrepreneurship Institute and GRIE research group, he contributes to studies on venture creation in digital economies and strategic innovation in established firms. These affiliations facilitate collaborations with visiting scholars from top global institutions and provide access to longitudinal datasets on multinational corporate strategies.
Professor Pablo Sanz Bayón is an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Law of Comillas Pontifical University, where he teaches in the Department of Economic and Social Law. He serves as Co-Director of the Garrigues-ICADE Chair of Corporate Law and has 15 years of teaching experience at the university. His academic background includes a Law degree from Comillas Pontifical University (graduating with honors), a Master's degree in Business Law (receiving the Extraordinary Award), and a PhD in Law with the highest distinction and international recognition. His doctoral dissertation received the honorary award for the best thesis defended at the Faculty of Law during the 2015-2016 academic year. Professor Sanz Bayón's research focuses on corporate law and the regulation of digital technologies applied to the financial sector. His work spans multiple areas including hostile takeovers and minority shareholder protection, cryptocurrency regulation, smart contracts, and the automation of financial services. He approaches these topics from both legal and economic perspectives, providing comprehensive analyses of emerging regulatory challenges that balance innovation with consumer protection. His research has been supported by multiple grants, including projects funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Professor Sanz Bayón has conducted research stays at prestigious institutions including the University of Cambridge, Max Planck Institute in Hamburg, China University of Political and Legal Sciences, and the Universities of Sydney and Melbourne. Extraordinary Award for Master's degree in Business Law Honorary award for best doctoral thesis at Faculty of Law (2015-2016) Highest distinction and international recognition for PhD Professor Sanz Bayón has established a robust international presence, having taught at universities worldwide including Kozminski (Poland), UIBE (China), Paris Nanterre (France), Externado (Colombia), Alberto Hurtado (Chile), and Tokyo-Chuo (Japan). He regularly participates in international conferences organized by UNCITRAL, KLRI, and leading universities, contributing to global discussions on financial regulation and digital technologies in law.
Simon Amrein is a Professor and Co-Head of the Master's Program in Banking and Finance at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Business, based at the Institute for Financial Services Zug (IFZ) in Rotkreuz, Switzerland. He has held this position since 2020 and maintains an active research and teaching profile in banking and finance. Dr. Amrein earned his PhD in History and Civilization (Financial History) from the European University Institute in Florence, where he completed his dissertation "Capital in Banking: The Role of Capital in British and Swiss Banking, 1830-1990." His academic credentials also include an MSc in Economic History from LSE and an MSc in Banking and Finance from Lucerne University. His research spans the Swiss banking sector, banking regulation, financial history, alternative finance including P2P lending and marketplace lending, crowdfunding, and retail banking. His work uniquely bridges historical perspectives with contemporary financial challenges, with particular focus on the Swiss financial landscape. Amrein's publication record shows a strong emphasis on practical banking research, particularly through his annual reports including the Marketplace Lending Report Switzerland, Crowdfunding Monitor Switzerland, and the IFZ Retail Banking Study series. His recent work explores cryptocurrency adoption, capital regulation, and the implications of major banking developments like the UBS-Credit Suisse merger in Switzerland. 2016 Publication Award of the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts - Business, category "Public" for "Crowdfunding Monitoring Switzerland 2015" Dr. Amrein teaches courses on financial sector regulation, strategic management in financial services, and banking modules at both undergraduate and graduate levels. His professional experience includes serving as General Secretary of the Swiss Marketplace Lending Association (2017-2022) and extensive research work at the IFZ since 2009. His current research projects examine fintech developments, marketplace lending trends, investment behavior, benchmarking for Swiss regional banks, corporate financing with private debt, and studies on SME financing in Switzerland. He actively collaborates with industry partners and contributes to policy discussions on financial regulation in Switzerland.
Victor Naing serves as Sessional Faculty in the Department of Quantitative Studies at University Canada West, teaching MBA-level courses in Financial Management and Digital Transformation alongside undergraduate courses including Information Systems for Managers, Human Resources Management, and Organizational Behaviour. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Business Management from Singapore Management University, complemented by executive education in product management from the University of California, Berkeley. His expertise bridges enterprise systems, Cloud ERP, AI and Machine Learning, Blockchain, FinTech, and Payments, leveraging 18+ years of industry leadership across banking (Air France, ABN Amro Bank), telecommunications (BlackBerry), and enterprise software (IBM Consulting, SAP Canada) to deliver real-world classroom applications. Victor's teaching excellence is recognized through UCW's Sessional Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award (Spring 2025) and EDUSN's Humanitarian Educator Award (2024) for advancing education in Myanmar. Beyond instruction, he actively develops courses, establishes experiential learning partnerships, mentors student leaders, coaches MBA case competitions, and serves as guest lecturer at Simon Fraser University and UBC while speaking at industry forums including Product Camp Vancouver and ASUG BC Chapter.
Mamunur Rashid serves as a Reader in International Finance and Course Director of Economics and Finance at the School of Business, Law, and Policing, University of Kent. With over twenty years of academic experience across four countries, he specializes in teaching and research in finance, having designed and delivered undergraduate and postgraduate modules on FinTech, sustainable finance, Islamic finance, and wealth management. His research expertise encompasses international finance with a strong focus on innovative financial domains. Key areas include: FinTech: Exploring technological innovations in financial services. Sustainable Finance: Integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into financial decision-making. Islamic Finance: Alternative financial systems adhering to Sharia law. Wealth Management: Strategies for managing high-net-worth individuals' assets. Notable recognitions include: Fellow at Prince Sultan University's GIFTZ Centre, Saudi Arabia. Professor Rashid has successfully managed multiple private and government research grants. He is actively involved in academic service as an Associate Editor for two leading finance and economics journals. Furthermore, he co-founded and directed the Centre for Islamic Banking, Finance and Management Research (CIBFR) and previously served as Chief Judge for Malaysia's Emerald Reviewer Training Competition. He established the Centre for Islamic Banking, Finance and Management Research (CIBFR), fostering collaborative research in Islamic finance.
Sarah Jane Hughes is a Professor and University Scholar in Commercial Law at Indiana University Maurer School of Law. She teaches courses including Sales, Negotiable Instruments, Secured Transactions, and Banking Law, and supervises the semester externship program in Washington, DC. Professor Hughes earned her A.B. cum laude from Mount Holyoke College in 1971 and her J.D. from the University of Washington in 1974, where she served on the board of editors for the Washington Law Review. Professor Hughes is a nationally recognized expert in payment systems, including domestic, international, Internet banking, smart cards, wire transfers, checks, embezzlement, and credit cards. Her expertise also extends to public and private methods to deter, detect, and prosecute domestic and international money laundering, as well as consumer protection and financial privacy. She has served as Attorney-Advisor at the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection (1974-1988) and has been a Reporter for the Standing Committee on Payments Systems, Permanent Editorial Board for the Uniform Commercial Code since 2003. She is an elected member of the American Law Institute (2000-present) and serves on the American Bar Association liaison to the Money Services Act Drafting Committee. Professor Hughes' recent scholarly work focuses on virtual currencies, blockchain technology, and the evolving regulatory landscape for electronic payments. Her publications demonstrate a consistent trend toward examining the intersection of emerging financial technologies with traditional legal frameworks, particularly in the areas of consumer protection, money laundering prevention, and cybersecurity. She has been particularly active in analyzing regulatory approaches to cryptocurrencies at both state and federal levels, including her work as Reporter for the Uniform Regulation of Virtual Currency Business Act. Professor Hughes has received several prestigious awards for her teaching excellence: Leon Wallace Teaching Award (1993) Gavel Award (1996, 1997, 2000) As Faculty Supervisor and Instructor for the Washington DC Semester Program since Fall 2013, Professor Hughes has mentored numerous law students through externships in the nation's capital. She has provided expert testimony before Congressional committees on consumer protection issues in mobile payments and the present and future impact of virtual currency. Professor Hughes is actively involved in professional organizations including the American Bar Association's Cyberspace Law Committee, where she co-chairs the Working Group in Electronic Payment Services, and the Business Law, Antitrust and International Law Sections. Her work bridges academic scholarship with practical legal application in the rapidly evolving field of financial technology regulation.
Nichalin Summerfield serves as Associate Professor and M.S. in Business Analytics Program Coordinator in the Operations and Information Systems Department at UMass Lowell's Manning School of Business, leveraging interdisciplinary expertise in quantitative methods and healthcare systems. Education: Ph.D. in Operations Management (2010), Department of Management Information Systems, The University of Arizona M.S. in Management Information Systems (2005), Department of Management Information Systems, The University of Arizona BEE in Electrical Engineering (Honors) (1998), Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University Research Focus: Her work integrates explainable AI , simulation modeling , and game theory to solve healthcare logistics challenges including patient no-show prediction, substance use disorder treatment optimization, and mobile banking security. Recent methodologies emphasize interpretable machine learning for generating testable hypotheses from complex clinical datasets. Publication Trends: Spanning 2011-2025, her research evolved from foundational operations research (Chinese Postman Problem applications, stochastic programming) toward cutting-edge healthcare analytics, with 2021-2025 publications demonstrating strong emphasis on explainable AI frameworks for medical decision support and financial systems security. Scientific Recognition: Department's Research Excellence Award (2025) Department's Teaching Excellence Award (2022) Runner-up - DSI Regional Best Paper Award (2021) Best Application of Theory Paper Award (2021) Research Leadership: As Co-Principal Investigator for the 2024 Internal Seed Grant on electoral precinct resource allocation and 2017 urban transportation analytics project, she secures funding for real-world problem solving. Current work explores deep reinforcement learning in supply chain optimization , building on prior industry experience at Accenture and NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander software development. Collaborative Networks: Partnerships with University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Healthcare enable translational research, while active participation in Decision Sciences Institute and INFORMS conferences drives methodological innovation in business analytics.
