Teresa Nelson

Elizabeth J. McCandless Professor of Entrepreneurship; Faculty Affiliate, Center for Gender in Organizations
P: 617-521-3867
F: 617-521-3880
teresa.nelson@simmons.edu

Ph.D., Business Administration (Strategic Management/Global Business), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign


Specialization

Strategic Management; Entrepreneurship; and Global Business, especially China and the European Union

Bio

Dr. Teresa Nelson holds the Elizabeth J. McCandless Professor of Entrepreneurship Chair and is Director of the School of Management's Entrepreneurship Program. Her teaching, research, and consulting focuses on issues of entrepreneurship and global business, most particularly around start-up and growth company governance and top management team dynamics. She has also been engaged for more than a decade with global business issues, including especially China and the European Union.

In the classroom, Dr. Nelson engages executive, graduate, and undergraduate students in rigorous conceptual and experiential learning, believing that students will benefit from an education that moves them out into the world of practice and is relevant to their talents, goals and interests. Nelson has taught on five continents and travels extensively. She has led travel courses for executives and students to many parts of the world, including China, where she has experienced first-hand the emergence of the market economy over the last dozen years. At Simmons she teaches entrepreneurship in the post-MBA Certificate in Entrepreneurship and she works with a team to assist, connect and educate women to launch businesses.

Nelson's primary research is related to the implications and outcomes of firms transitioning through growth stages up to and through initial public equity offering. She has studied product, process and performance changes as well as the implications of firm growth patterns on women executives. Her experience in global business has translated into research on the markets of China and the strategic implications of the organization of global stock exchanges. As an affiliate of the Center for Gender in Organizations, Nelson is now engaged in multiple research projects to build knowledge around women and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Nelson had more than 10 years of business experience in business consulting, government, and politics before returning to school for her MBA and Ph.D. She has founded two businesses and works as an affiliate consultant with two others. She is a frequent speaker on issues of China and women’s entrepreneurship.

Publications

Work in Progress

  • “The Impact of a Gendered Landscape on Access to Capital: A Qualitative Study" (with Deborah Kolb, Sylvia Maxfield), Diana International Conference, November 2008.
  • "Pure Home Water: Building a Mission Drive Enterprise in Northern Ghana,” (with Cynthia Ingols and Jennifer Christian-Murtie), a case on social entrepreneur Susan Murcott, funded by a grant from the North American Case Research Association, 2007-08.
  • "Family Enterprise and Gender: How Daughters of Family Enterprise Perceive Their Careers as Entrepreneurs,” 2èmes Journées Georges Doriot (Family Enterprising), 2008.
  • "Toward An Engagement Theory Of Governance: The Dynamics of Governance Structures and Practices in High Growth, High Potential Firms," (with Huseyin Leblebici), the Strategic Management Society annual meeting, 2006.
  • “Making Profit, Making Livelihoods: Radha Basu, IT and the Tiger Country of India,” (with Cynthia Ingols).


 

Professional Memberships

Academy of Management, Strategic Management Society, United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Academy of International Business, Women in the Academy of International Business, Diana International, International Council for Small Business, European Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship

Professional Services

  • Member of the Academy of Management Entrepreneurship Executive Division Committee
  • Editorial Advisory Board Member- International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship
  • Co-Chair of the Women’s Division Conference Program, International Council for Small Business International, 2008
  • Scientific Committee, Journees George Doriot, 2008
  • Ad-hoc reviewer (2001-present) for Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Business Venturing, Cambridge University Press, Journal of Small Business Management, Abacas; the   Entrepreneurship Divisions of the Academy of Management and the Strategic Management Society; and the US Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE)
  • Case Competition Reviewer and Judge, U.S. Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship 2006; Business Plan Judge, Make Mine A Million competition 2006
  • Representative to the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers

 

Last Updated: June 16, 2008 09:56 AM | Content Editor: SOM