Dr. Shaker A. Zahra stands as a preeminent scholar in entrepreneurship and strategic management, holding the prestigious Robert E. Buuck Chair of Entrepreneurship and serving as Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota. With a distinguished academic career spanning over three decades, he previously held the Paul T. Babson Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship position at Babson College and served as Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at Georgia State University. Dr. Zahra earned his PhD in Business Administration with a focus on Business Policy and Managerial Economics from the University of Mississippi, complemented by an MBA with Distinction from National University and a B. Commerce with Honors from Al-Azhar University. His leadership extends beyond teaching and research, having served as Department Chair for nine years, Director of the Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship for a decade, and Academic Co-Director of Carlson Ventures Enterprises while founding the Center for Integrative Leadership at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Zahra's groundbreaking research has fundamentally reshaped theoretical and practical understanding of international entrepreneurship, corporate innovation, and strategic management in global technology industries. His influential work on dynamic capabilities in science and technology sectors has earned him recognition as one of the most widely cited authors in management over a 25-year period, with a 2020 Stanford study ranking him as the world's fourth most-cited scholar in business and management. His scholarly contributions span premier journals including the Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, and Journal of Management Studies, where he has received multiple best paper awards. The profound impact of his research extends beyond academia, influencing policy frameworks and entrepreneurial practices worldwide through his exploration of how firms develop and leverage innovation capabilities across international boundaries.
As a globally recognized thought leader, Dr. Zahra has received six honorary doctorates from esteemed institutions including the University of Antwerp, Stockholm School of Economics, Jönköping International Business School, Ghent University, University of Messina, and Universidad de Olavide de Seville, underscoring his international influence. His exceptional contributions to the field were formally acknowledged with the prestigious Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research in 2014, alongside the Academy of Management Entrepreneurship Division's award in 2021 for his creative and impactful contributions. Dr. Zahra's intellectual leadership continues to shape the field through his extensive editorial board service on over twenty-five professional journals, keynote addresses at more than forty international conferences, and mentoring of next-generation scholars. Currently, his research explores how state policies impact innovation in European countries, the factors driving the creation of unicorn companies, and the evolving dynamics of entrepreneurship in family firms operating within technology industries, ensuring his continued relevance in addressing contemporary business challenges.
