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, where 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. Shaker's research focuses on: entrepreneurship & national policy in global tech-based industries; international entrepreneurship; corporate entrepreneurship & Knowlege creation, absorption & conversion; and Knolwedge and capability development.
Shaker's research has appeared in journals that include the 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 (JIBS), Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of Organizational Behavior, Decision Sciences, Information Systems Research, Industrial & Corporate Change, Research Policy, Human Relations, among others. Dr. Zahra has also published or (co) edited 12 books and conference proceedings.
Shaker has received several grants, honors and awards, including honorary Ph.D. degrees from Stockholm School of Economics and Jonkoping International Business School (both in Sweden). 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.
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) and as the Chair of the Entrepreneurship Division of the Academy of Management. He has also served as a keynote speaker for over 40 conferences in the US and other countries.
Teaching & Outreach. Shaker has taught undergarduate, 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.
Shaker 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.
In addition, Shaker has taught at several DBA, Executive Doctorate and Ph.D. programs in the US and other countries (advising/ chairing or serving on 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.
Top Management's Attention to Discontinuous Technological Change: Corporate Venture Capital as an Alert Mechanism," Organization Science, 2013, in press (Maula, Keil & Zahra)
"The Effect of Strategic Variety and Origin on New Venture Performance," Strategic Management Journal, 2013, in press (Larraneta, Zahra. & Galán).
"Stakeholder Pressure on MNEs and the Transfer of Socially Irresponsible Practices to Subsidiaries, " Academy of Management Journal, 2013, in press (Surroca, Tribo, & Zahra)
"Globalization of Social Entrepreneurship," Zahra, Rawhouser, Bhawe, Neubaum & Hayton, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal (2008).
"Exploration, Exploitation and Firm Performance: Analysis of S&P 500 Corporations," Keil, Maula, Juha & Zahra, Strategic Management Journal (2008).
"A Typology of Social Entrepreneurs: Motives, Search Processes and Ethical Challenges" Zahra, Gedajlovic, Neubaum & Shulman, Journal of Business Venturing (2009).
"The Effect of Governance Modes and Relatedness of External Business Development Activities on Innovative Performance," Keil, Maula, Schildt & Zahra, Strategic Management Journal (2009).
"Knowledge Conversion Capability and the Performance of Corporate and University Spin-Offs," S. Zahra, Van de Velde & Larraneta, Industrial and Corporate Change (2007).
"The Survival of International New Ventures," R. Mudambi & S. Zahra, JIBS (2007).
"Entrepreneurship and Dynamic Capabilities: A Review, Model, and Research Agenda," S. Zahra, H. Sapienza & P. Davidsson, Journal of Management Studies (2006).
"The Effect of Early Internationalization on Firm Profitability and Growth," H. Sapienza, E. Autio, G. George & S. Zahra, AMR(2006).
"A Theory on International New Ventures: A Decade of Research," S. Zahra, JIBS (2005).
"Management Fraud: Antecedents and Consequences," S. Zahra, A. Rasheed & R. Priem, J. of Management (2005).
"Absorptive Capacity: A Review, Reconceptualization, and Extension," S. Zahra & G. George, AMR (2002).
"Sources of Capabilities, Integration, and Technology Commercialization," S. Zahra & A. P. Nielsen, SMJ (2002).
"Privatization and Entrepreneurial Transformation: A Review and Research Agenda," Zahra, Ireland, Guiterrez & Hitt, AMR (2000).
"International Expansion, Technological Learning, and New Venture Performance," S. Zahra, D. Ireland & M. Hitt, AMJ (2000).
"Entrepreneurship in Medium-Size Companies: Exploring the Effects of Ownership and Governance Systems," S. Zahra, D. Neubaum & M. Huse, J. of Management (2000).
Spring 2013
MGMT 8404 Topics in Strategy I Sec. 001
Served on 25+ Editorial Boards that include JoM, JMS, AME, JBV, JIBS, SEJ, JBR, among others
Chair, Strategic Management & Organization Department (2010-2013)
Academic Director, Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Minnesota
Founding co-Director, Center for Integrative Leadership
Academic Co-Director, Carlson Venture Enterprises
Chair, Entrepreneurship Division, Academy of Management
Program Chair, Entrepreneurship Division, Academy of Management
Incoming Chair, Entrepreneurship Division, Academy of Management
Chair, Professional Development Workshops, Entrepreneurship Division, Academy of Management
Director, Babson Kauffman Entrepreneurship Research Conference
Past Chair, International Entrepreneurship Track, Academy of International Business
Chair, Strategy and Entrepreneurship Track, Decision Science Institute
Chair, 3 tracks, Southern Management Association
Board of Governors, Southern Management Association
Best Paper Award, Academy of Management Journal
Finalist for Best Paper Award, Academy of Management Review
Best Paper Award, Journal of Management
Best Paper Award, Journal of Management Studies
Sustained Contribution Award for Research on Corporate Entrepreneurship, USASBE
Falcone Distinguished Entrepreneurship Scholar, Syracuse University.
Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Advancement of Research on Global Competitiveness, American Society for Competitiveness.
Research Award, Carlson School of Management
Best Paper Award for a paper in the Journal of Business Venturing, USASBE
Best Paper Award in Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice
Best Theory Paper Award, Entrepreneurship Division, Academy of Management
Best Paper Award, Social Issues Division, Academy of Management
Best Paper Award, Production and Operations Management Division, Academy of Management
Best Paper Award, Iberoamrican Academy of Management
Stevens Institute Best Paper Award (corporate entrepreneurship), Babson College Entrepreneurship Conference
Best Paper Award, Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference
Keynote Speaker, over 40 national and international conferences or meetings
Fellow, Southern Management Association
Fellow, Raymond Institute for Family Business
Fellow, 21st Century Research, National Association for Entrepreneurship Centers
Fellow, International Family Enterprise Research Association (IFERA)
Mentor Award, Entrepreneurship Division, Academy of Management
