Shaker A. Zahra is the Department Chair, Robert E. Buuck Chair of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Strategy in the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. He is also the Academic Director of the Gary S. Holmes Entrepreneurship Center. He has served also as the Academic Co-Director of Carlson Ventures Enterprises as well as the Founding Co-Director of the Center for Integrative Leadership at University of Minnesota. Previously, Shaker was Paul T. Babson Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at Babson College and Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship at Georgia State University. He has been a visiting or guest professor at several universities in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Shaker has also held the 3TU Chair in International Entrepreneurship at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
Research
Focus of Current Research. Shaker's research examines: (1) entrepreneurial knowledge and capability development in global industries; (2) international entrepreneurship & capability development; and (3) the role of corporate entrepreneurship in knowledge creation, absorption and conversion.
Shaker studies industry emergence and its consequences for entrepreneurship. His research also explores the evolution and sources of novelty in companies' strategic choices and their implications for firm heterogeneity. This research contributes to the knowledge, organizational learning, and the dynamic capabilities' theoretical perspectives-- especially in young entrepreneurial and established companies in technology-based global markets.
Snapshot of Ongoing Research. Shaker's ongoing research covers multiple industries that include: robotics, software applications, global mobile applications, videogame, pharma, and nanotechnology. Besides the US, his research projects are underway in several countries that include: China, Swaziland, Brazil, India, Morocco, Korea, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, and Spain. These studies, which are conducted in collaboration with several research partners, apply multiple methods and theories and cover multiple levels of the analysis.
Sample Publications. Shaker's research has appeared in leading journals such as: Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Academy of Management Executive, Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management, Organization Science, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Decision Sciences, Information Systems Research, Industrial & Corporate Change, Research Policy, Human Relations, Academy of Management Perspectives, Academy of Management Learning and Education, among others. Shaker has also published or (co) edited 12 books and conference proceedings.
Sample Research Recognitions. Shaker is the winner of the 2014 Global Award For Entrepreneurship Research. He has received several grants, honors and awards-- including 5 honorary Ph.D. degrees from Stockholm School of Economics, Jonkoping International Business School (both in Sweden), Ghent University (Belgium), University of Messina (Italy) and Universidad de Olavide de Seville (Spain). He is a 21st Century Research Fellow of the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers, Fellow of the Southern Management Association, Fellow of the International Family Enterprise Association (IFERA), and the Raymond Institute for Family Business. Shaker's research has received several "Best Paper" awards from AMJ, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, among others. His research and writings have appeared and cited in the New York Times, Financial Times, USA Today, Philadephia Inquirer, Inc, among others. His writings have appeared (profiled) in or translated to Arabic, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, German, Portuguese (Brazilian), Swedish, among others.
Academic Leadership
Shaker has served on over 25 journal editorial boards as well as a Track Chair for: Decision Sciences Institute, Academy of International Business, and Southern Management Association (3 times). He has also served as the Director of the Babson Kauffman Entrepreneurship Research Conference (BKERC/BCERC) and as the Chair of the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. In addition, Shaker served as a keynote speaker for over 40 conferences in the US and other countries (e.g., France, Spain, Italy, China, Brazil, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Turkey, Dominican Republic & Netherlands).
Teaching & Outreach
Shaker has taught undergraduate, MBA, EMBA, and the executive programs at Minnesota, Babson, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, among several others. He has also taught in several company-sponsored executive education and customized-MBA programs. He has been a consultant to several prominent companies and organizations in the US and other countries. His clients include some of the world's largest global technology-based companies.
Shaker has taught at several DBA, Executive Doctorate and Ph.D. programs in the US and other countries (advising/ chairing or serving on committees of over 75 Ph.D. students). Shaker received several awards for his excellent teaching, including the Best teacher in the MBA and the Mentor Award from the Entrepreneurship Division, the Academy of Management.
For a Full Copy of Shaker's resume, please send an email to Zahra004@umn.edu
