Bio

My research focuses on the influence of the external environment on entrepreneurship. Specifically, I investigate the types of environments that encourage the founding of high growth, technology-based firms. Although I build on previous literature that explains why entrepreneurs are successful on the basis of individual characteristics, network ties, and strategy, my major contribution is to demonstrate that institutions matter. I show that effective institutional change influences who starts firms, not just how many firms are started.

Studying the implications of institutional change for entrepreneurship is difficult because it requires that institutions vary while other aspects of the environment remain constant. Thus, I have repeatedly studied entrepreneurship in a single country (China, Japan, and the U.S.) before and after a major institutional change that has intentionally or unintentionally altered the landscape for people who seek to found new firms.

My research is divided into three streams: (1) how formal institutions (policies, legal structures and regulations) influence entrepreneurship, (2) how informal institutions (accepted practices and norms) shape entrepreneurial opportunities, (3) how the environments of particular industries influence the success of entrepreneurial teams.

Academic Appointments

  • Assistant Professor, Management Science and Engineering

Honors & Awards

  • Research Fund for International Young Scientists, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (2012)
  • Lillie Award, Stanford University (2011, 2012)
  • Best Dissertation Award Winner (Business Policy and Strategy Division), Academy of Management (2010)
  • Dissertation Fellowship Award, Kauffman Foundation (2007)
  • Batten Institute Fellow, University of Virginia (UVA) Darden School of Business
  • Best Paper Proceedings, Academy of Management (2005, 2006, 2010, 2012)
  • Technology and Innovation Management, IEEE International (2011)
  • Richard Schulze Inaugural Distinguished Professorship Award, Richard Schulze Foundation (2015)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Editorial Board, Strategic Management Journal (2015 - Present)
  • Director, Startup Chile (2012 - Present)
  • Member, Academy of Management (2005 - Present)

Professional Education

  • PhD, MIT, Sloan School of Management (2009)
  • BS, Duke University, Biological Basis of Behavior (2002)

Contact

Links

Current Research and Scholarly Interests

My research focuses on the influence of the external environment on entrepreneurship. Specifically, I investigate the types of environments that encourage the founding of high growth, technology-based firms. Although I build on previous literature that explains why entrepreneurs are successful on the basis of individual characteristics, network ties, and strategy, my major contribution is to demonstrate that institutions matter. I show that effective institutional change influences who starts firms, not just how many firms are started.

Studying the implications of institutional change for entrepreneurship is difficult because it requires that institutions vary while other aspects of the environment remain constant. Thus, I have repeatedly studied entrepreneurship in a single country (China, Japan, and the U.S.) before and after a major institutional change that has intentionally or unintentionally altered the landscape for people who seek to found new firms.
My research is divided into three streams: (1) how formal institutions (policies, legal structures and regulations) influence entrepreneurship, (2) how informal institutions (accepted practices and norms) shape entrepreneurial opportunities, (3) how the environments of particular industries influence the success of entrepreneurial teams.

In 2012, I was winner of a prestigious and highly selective award from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 2012 Research Fund for International Young Scientists. I also received the 2010 Best Dissertation Award in the Business Policy and Strategy Division of the Academy of Management and am recipient of the 2007 Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s Dissertation Fellowship award. My work has been generously funded by Sequoia Capital, Sohu.com, the Kauffman Foundation, the MIT Entrepreneurship Center and Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP).

Prior to returning to school, I worked as a research assistant at the Duke University Medical Center, publishing in medical journals and textbooks on cognition in schizophrenia and fMRI neuro-imaging studies. In addition, I have founded three firms and worked in two venture capital firms, focusing on education and life sciences sectors.

2015-16 Courses

All Publications

  • Does Institutional Change in Universities Influence High-Tech Entrepreneurship? Evidence from China’s Project 985 Organization Science (forthcoming) Eesley, C. E., Li, J. B. 2015
  • Through the Mud or in the Boardroom: Examining Activist Types and their Strategies in Targeting Firms for Social Change Strategic Management Journal Eesley, C., DeCelles, K., Lenox, M. 2015

    View details for DOI 10.1002/smj.2458

  • THE CONTINGENT EFFECTS OF TOP MANAGEMENT TEAMS ON VENTURE PERFORMANCE: ALIGNING FOUNDING TEAM COMPOSITION WITH INNOVATION STRATEGY AND COMMERCIALIZATION ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT JOURNAL Eesley, C. E., Hsu, D. H., Roberts, E. B. 2014; 35 (12): 1798-1817

    View details for DOI 10.1002/smj.2183

    View details for Web of Science ID 000344327400005

  • Are You Experienced: When Does Talent vs. Experience Drive Entrepreneurial Performance Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal Eesley, C., E., Roberts, E., B. 2012; 6 (3): 207-219
  • Private Environmental Activism and the Selection and Response of Firm Targets. Journal of Economics Management and Strategy Lenox, M., Eesley, C., E. 2009; 18 (1): 45-73
  • Entrepreneurs from technology-based universities: Evidence from MIT Research Policy Hsu, D. H., Roberts, E. B., Eesley, C. E. 2007; 5 (36): 768-788
  • Firm Responses to Secondary Stakeholder Action Strategic Management Journal Eesley, C. E. 2006; 27 (8): 765-782

    View details for DOI 10.1002/smj.536

  • Entrepreneurship Education Comes of Age on Campus: The Challenges and Rewards of Bringing Entrepreneurship to Higher Education Ewing Marion Kauffman Research Paper Torrance, Wendy, E. F., Rauch, J., Aulet, W., Blum, L., Burke, B., D'Ambrosio, T., Eesley, C. E.
  • Impact: Stanford University's Economic Impact via Innovation and Entrepreneurship Eesley, Charles, E., Miller, William, F.
  • Entrepreneurship Education Comes of Age on Campus: The Challenges and Rewards of Bringing Entrepreneurship to Higher Education Torrance, W. E., Rauch, J., Aulet, W., Blum, L., Burke, B., D'Ambrosio, T., Eesley, C. E. 2013
  • Review of: Winds of Change: The Environmental Movement and the Global Development of the Wind Energy Industry Administrative Science Quarterly Eesley, C., E., Hannah, D., P. 2012; 57: 359-362
  • Neurocognitive Impairments Essentials of Schizophrenia Keefe, R., Eesley, C. E. American Psychiatric Publishing. Washington, DC, 2012.. 2012
  • Bringing Ideas to Life IEEE International Recent Advances in Technology and Innovation Management Eesley, C. E., Hsu, D., Roberts, E. B. Wily Publications. 2012: 40-60
  • Entrepreneurial Impact: The Role of MIT - An Updated Report Foundations and Trends in Entrepreneurship Roberts, E., B., Eesley, C., E. 2011; 7 (1-2): 1-149
  • Neurocognition in Schizophrenia Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry Keefe, R., Eesley, C. E. edited by Sadock, B., Sadock, V. A., Ruiz, P. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins. 2009
  • Implementing a Public Subsidy for Vaccines Pharmaceutical Innovation: Incentives, Competition, and Cost-Benefit Analysis in International Perspective Sloan, F. A., Eesley, C. E. edited by Sloan, F. A. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2007: 107-126
  • Governments as Insurers in Professional and Hospital Liability Insurance Markets Medical Malpractice and the U.S. Health Care System--New Century, Different Issues Sloan, F. A., Eesley, C. E. edited by Sage, W. M. New York: Cambridge University Press. 2006: 291-317
  • Defining a cognitive function decrement in schizophrenia Biological psychiatry Keefe, R. S., Eesley, C. E., Poe, M. P. 2005; 6 (57): 688-691