Members of the Strategy, International Management, & Entrepreneurship Department (SIME) at King’s Business School produce impactful research on the most pressing business and societal challenges — from climate change and inequality to geopolitical tensions — and the strategic and entrepreneurial approaches firms need to navigate them. Our colleagues publish in the field’s most selective journals, lead externally funded projects, and contribute to the scholarly conversation as editors, fellows, and award recipients. 

Spanning interdisciplinary research domains, our work appears in a range of journals including: Academy of Management Annals, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Administrative Science Quarterly, Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Human Relations, Journal of Business Ethics, Journal of Business Venturing, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Journal of World Business, Organization Science, Research Policy, Socio-Economic Review, and Strategic Management Journal.

View an overview of our research outputs. Many of our colleagues are open to recruiting new PhD students aligned with their research expertise.

Research Themes

Global Dynamics and International Strategy

We study how firms navigate an increasingly complex and contested world. Our research spans the strategies of multinational corporations across domains such as corporate governance and ownership, corporate social responsibility; the geopolitics of trade and industrial policy; and how first compete across different national and regional contexts. A further strand of our research examines how industries emerge and evolve — how catalysing places and communities give rise to new sectors, how firms develop and adapt their business models in response to radical innovation and digital disruption, and how strategic leaders allocate and coordinate resources to build competitive advantage in fast-moving environments. Recent research has examined why companies systematically misread international markets; how states in East Asia use economic statecraft to build globally competitive industries; and the factors that enable or constrain–India bilateral trade.

Theme Lead: Professor Paolo Aversa

Academics (in alphabetical order): Professor Paolo Aversa, Dr Himanshu Bhatt, Dr Zhujun Ding, Dr Basak Yakis-Douglas, Professor Igor Filatotchev, Professor Johann Fortwengel, Dr Kamini Gupta, Dr Gabriela Gutierrez Huerter O, Dr Christopher Hazlehurst, Professor Gregory Jackson, Dr Andreas Kornelakis, Dr Niklas Lindlbauer, Professor Craig Robinson, Professor Michael Witt

Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Society

We study how new ventures are created and scaled, how entrepreneurs navigate the demands of the venturing process, and how innovation reshapes industries and societies. Our research spans understanding the starting and scaling of different types of entrepreneurships with a particular focus on societal impact, entrepreneurial wellbeing, resilience and decision-making, digital entrepreneurship and algorithmic legitimacy, entrepreneurial leadership and change agents within large corporations, entrepreneurial finance, and innovation in knowledge-intensive industries. Recent research examines the human sustainability of entrepreneurship; the role of autonomy and social purpose rather than financial success; considers how entrepreneurship can be inclusive; the nature of community-driven crowdfunding; and the influence of digital platforms in reshaping venture creation and legitimacy. We also bring gender and feminist perspectives to entrepreneurship and responsible business.

Theme Lead: Professor Ute Stephan

Academics (in alphabetical order): Dr Elisa Alt, Dr Sonia Koller, Dr Addy Drencheva, Professor Michael Etter, Dr Hadar Gafni, Professor Robyn Klingler-Vidra, Professor Marcela Miozzo, Dr Anna Rebmann, Dr Susan Schwarz, Dr Mihwa Seong, Professor Ute Stephan, Dr Lamees Tanveer, Dr Claudia Vecciolini

Sustainable and Responsible Business

We study how firms lead the transition to more sustainable and responsible ways of operating. Our research addresses corporate sustainability strategy, responsible business in global value chains, community-led energy transitions, and how firms in industries ranging from winter tourism to automotive develop strategies under increasing environmental pressure. We pursue this work in close collaboration with the King’s Business School Centre for Sustainable Business.

Theme Lead: Professor Jonatan Pinkse

Academics (in alphabetical order): Dr Siavash Ali Madadi Jani, Dr Stephanie Daher, Dr Pauline Destrée, Dr Emma Fromberg, Dr Yunus Isik, Professor Jonatan Pinkse, Dr Hannah Schupfer, Professor Laura Spence, Dr Catherine Tilley

Recognition and Leadership

SIME faculty are recognised leaders in the global scholarly community.

• Editorial leadership — SIME faculty hold editorial roles in top journals in the field, including the Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Human Resource Management Journal, and Journal of Business Ethics.
• Fellowships — Three SIME faculty members are Fellows of the Academy of International Business Fellow, one of the highest honours in international business research: Professor Keith Brouthers, Professor Igor Filatotchev, and Professor Michael Witt. SIME members also hold distinguished fellowships in Applied Psychology (Professor Ute Stephan) and are Fellows of the Academy of Social Sciences (Professor Laura Spence).
• JIBS Decade Award — Professor Ute Stephan received the 2025 JIBS Decade Award, which recognises the most impactful article published in the Journal of International Business Studies over the previous decade. Previous recipients include Professor Keith Brouthers and Professor Gregory Jackson.
• State honour – Professor Paolo Aversa was awarded a Knighthood (Order of the Star of Italy) for his contribution to research, industry and civil society.
• External research funding — The department’s research is supported by competitive grants from the British Academy, the European Union, the Leverhulme Trust, UK Research and Innovation, and the German Research Foundation.

Research Seminars

The department hosts a regular Research Seminar Series for staff and doctoral candidates, bringing leading international scholars to King’s to present and discuss their research. The series reflects our commitment to a vibrant, outward-looking research culture.

SIME engages with partners across industry, government, and civil society. Our work includes teaching, research collaboration, policy advice, and public engagement, driven by a shared conviction that excellent research and meaningful real-world impact are mutually reinforcing.

Impact

SIME academics translate their research into real-world change — shaping policy, informing practice, and addressing pressing societal challenges. The examples below illustrate the breadth of this work.

In the area of responsible business, Dr Gabriela Gutierrez-Huerter O’s research on modern slavery in global supply chains is helping firms and policymakers understand how businesses can identify, address, and prevent labour exploitation in their operations and value chains. Dr Kamini Gupta’s ESRC-funded project on UK-India trade is conducted with King’s India Institute and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, in partnership with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The project examines how bilateral trade can become more inclusive, including through direct policy engagement with the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on India, focusing on gender-inclusive trade and women’s participation in the formal workforce.

In the area of entrepreneurship and social impact, Dr Andreana Drencheva’s research examines an often-overlooked aspect of social entrepreneurship: while the sector talks extensively about sustainable ventures, it has largely ignored the sustainability of the founders behind them. Her work documents the hidden wellbeing costs borne by social entrepreneurs, who often bear significant personal costs while pursuing social missions, and collaborates directly with social entrepreneurship support organisations to develop more effective support services. Dr Anna Rebmann’s research on social enterprise and community energy generates actionable insights into how community-led organisations can achieve both financial viability and social impact in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Professor Ute Stephan brings rigorous, evidence-based research to one of entrepreneurship's most overlooked dimensions: health and well-being. Her work – including systematic reviews and a global study of over 5,000 entrepreneurs across nearly 30 countries – has produced tools and evidence-based insights that have shaped how support organisations and trainers work with entrepreneurs, and helped entrepreneurs recognise the challenges inherent in their occupation. Her work has also informed government reviews, including the UK Parliament's inquiry into women's entrepreneurship.

Addressing the issue of UK productivity, Professor Marcela Miozzo co-leads the London and South Forum of The Productivity Institute (TPI), which applies research insights to improve business practice and policy. Within TPI initiatives, Dr Susan Schwarz's research on training, skills and productivity brings timely insights to inform UK industrial strategy planning, for instance via the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council and the Centre for Business Prosperity.

In the area of strategy and innovation, Professor Paolo Aversa has collaborated with organisations, professional teams, and regulators to support the development of the Formula 1 industry and the British and Italian motor valley clusters.

SIME academics contribute regularly to media and policy debates. Recent commentary has addressed the geopolitics of semiconductor supply chains, the UK venture ecosystem, the future of winter tourism under climate pressure, and the implications of AI for professional occupations, and competition and innovation in the sports industry. 

Institutional Partnerships

SIME collaborates with:

• Centre for Sustainable Business — a hub for research, teaching, and engagement on sustainability strategy and responsible business;
• King’s Entrepreneurship Institute — supporting students, staff, and alumni across King’s College London in developing new ventures;
• The Productivity Institute — contributing research on management practices, skills, and the conditions for productivity growth;
• King’s Global Institute for Women’s Leadership – leading research on inclusive entrepreneurship and investment.

Engagement in Research

SIME faculty collaborate with industry leaders, public agencies and third sector organisations through co-created research. We build lasting relationships with strategic partners around the world, including through a peer department relationship with Copenhagen Business School and exchanges with external partners such as Georgetown University. Our research partnerships take several forms:

• Externally funded research projects — supported by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the British Academy, the Leverhulme Trust, the German Research Foundation, and others;
• Co-created research — where partners help shape research questions and develop findings;
• Executive education — translating research insights into tailored programmes for senior practitioners;
• Advisory and policy roles — contributing to policy design and strategic decision-making through consulting.

Engagement in Education

Our postgraduate programmes are connected to practitioner networks. Students benefit from:

• Capstone and consultancy projects — working in teams on real strategic challenges set by partner organisations in London and internationally;
• Guest speaker series — engaging with senior leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policy professionals across industries and sectors;
• Competitions and innovation challenges — applying research insights to real-world entrepreneurship challenges;
• Internships and industry placements — building professional relationships and applying learning in practice.

Through the King’s Business School Strategy Consultancy, SIME academics and students provide business support to enterprises across London, combining research expertise with practical engagement.