Honorary doctorate for Prof. Shaker A. Zahra from the University of Minnesota
Shaker A. Zahra is Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and holds the Robert E. Buuck Chair of Entrepreneurship at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. "He is one of the world's most cited and influential scholars in the field of entrepreneurship and strategic management," said Prof. Liudvika Leišyte, Professor of Higher Education Didactics and Research at TU Dortmund University, in her laudatory speech for the new honorary doctor. Prof. Shaker A. Zahra already received the prestigious "Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research" in 2014 for his outstanding achievements in entrepreneurship research. He also holds six honorary doctorates from universities in Belgium, Spain, Italy and Sweden.
His work on thinking and acting within existing companies and on dynamic capabilities of firms has contributed significantly to deepening the understanding of innovation and adaptability of companies. In his research, he combines strategic and entrepreneurial perspectives and also takes international, social and sustainability aspects into account. In addition, Prof. Shaker A. Zahra is committed to the training of young scientists and the transfer of knowledge by translating his findings into practical strategies - for example in the context of digital transformation.
Inspiration for researchers and students from all over the world
“Prof. Shaker Zahra has inspired numerous established and prospective economists around the world with his research. We are very proud that our faculty has also been able to benefit from his expertise on several occasions, for example in research work or workshops for doctoral students,” said Prof. Steffen Strese, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics. “We look forward to staying in touch with our new honorary doctor in the years to come.”
In front of almost 70 guests, including researchers from the Netherlands and Italy, Prof. Zahra presented key findings on building an entrepreneurial university ecosystem in his keynote speech. He outlined the key elements of an "entrepreneurial university" and referred to international role models such as those in Silicon Valley. He addressed both the opportunities and challenges of an entrepreneurial orientation of universities. Among the key success factors he cited were a clear strategy, sustainability, close cooperation with industry and the interlinking of teaching, research and knowledge transfer - all supported by a lively, innovation-promoting culture.
About Prof. Shaker A. Zahra
Shaker A. Zahra began his academic career in the USA in the early 1980s. Before joining the University of Minnesota in 2005, he worked at Babson College in Massachusetts and at Georgia State University. Numerous visiting professorships have also taken him to several universities in Europe, the Middle East and Asia over the course of his career. Zahra also held a chair in International Entrepreneurship at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
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