BAM Entrepreneurship SIG Elections - SIG Chair and Track Chair Roles

I am very excited to express my interest in becoming the Chair of the BAM Entrepreneurship SIG. I am passionate about fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and supporting the growth of current and aspiring entrepreneurs. I have experience in, and enthusiasm for driving impactful initiatives for women and young entrepreneurs. I strongly believe that empowering these groups is essential for fostering innovation and boosting economic growth.

I am also deeply engaged with the academic side of entrepreneurship. I am a Principal Lecturer and Course Leader for the Business Masters and MBA programmes at a London-based business school. This year, I chaired a session, presented at, and reviewed papers for, the BAM 2024 conference.

In 2024 I successfully organised and chaired two events for the BAM Entrepreneurship SIG. One was a webinar on “Entrepreneurship in Business Schools”, which was attended by 37 participants and which generated broad and very positive feedback. I also organised a hybrid event called “Women Entrepreneurship – Overcoming Challenges Female Entrepreneurs Face”, for which I recruited a diverse panel of expert speakers. The event was attended by 30 people physically and approximately 50 more online from many different countries. It provided a valuable opportunity for existing entrepreneurs, as well as women aspiring to become entrepreneurs to further develop their skills, extend their networks and enhance their businesses and career-paths. Participants had the opportunity to learn strategies to help source or better manage their funds, to build their human resource capabilities and to strengthen the daily operations of their businesses. Many potential female entrepreneurs attended and at least two were motivated to start new ventures (making soft toys and cake baking).  

In addition to my academic and event organizing experience, I have authored a book on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, which enabled me to further deepen my expertise in this field. The insights I’ve gained through writing this book, particularly on the challenges and strategies for success in small business ventures, will be highly beneficial in leading the BAM Entrepreneurship SIG. This resource can serve as a valuable tool for SIG members, providing practical advice and research-based strategies to support aspiring entrepreneurs

If I become the chairperson, I will organize some events that address the unique challenges entrepreneurs face today. I would encourage suggestions from SIG members on topics for us to cover, but they could include workshops on securing funding, business scaling strategies, and navigating digital transformation. I also aim to introduce mentoring programs that connect successful entrepreneurs with students and young professionals, offering entrepreneurs a source of potential HR resource with which to expand their businesses, whilst also providing valuable business exposure and practical advice for students. Expanding our international network will be another priority, facilitating cross-border collaborations and the sharing of entrepreneurial best practices from diverse regions. By promoting inclusivity and providing the necessary tools for success, we can significantly build the profile of entrepreneurs, deliver individual career growth and contribute to broader economic development.

Additionally, I would expand the SIG’s reach by creating a quarterly meeting of practitioners where members can share their entrepreneurial journeys, challenges, and insights, fostering a strong community of innovators and thought-leaders within the organization.

Having successfully organised impactful sessions, I have demonstrated my ability to mobilize resources and create platforms that inspire and educate individuals. My experience with previous events reflects my dedication to promoting diverse perspectives in entrepreneurship. I am confident that with my leadership, the SIG will continue to provide meaningful opportunities for collaboration, learning, and growth.

Dr. M.K. Nandakumar is a distinguished Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK), renowned for his extensive contributions to the fields of strategy, entrepreneurship, and business ethics. He holds the position of Associate Editor for several prestigious journals, including the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, and the Journal of Social Entrepreneurship. Additionally, Dr. Nandakumar is a valued member of the editorial board for the Journal of International Management and serves on the Peer Review College of the British Academy of Management (BAM). He is currently the Co-Track Chair for the Strategy Track at BAM.

Dr. Nandakumar has also served in a few leading British universities. He has developed a robust research portfolio published in top-tier journals such as R&D Management, Journal of International Management, Journal of Business Research, Long Range Planning, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Australian Journal of Management, International Studies of Management and Organization, and Management Decision. His research has garnered significant attention and recognition in the academic community.

In addition to his research endeavors, Dr. Nandakumar has delivered executive development programs to thousands of managers and executives from prominent organizations. His flagship initiative, the Professional Certificate Programme in Advanced Strategic Management, is highly regarded and attracts a diverse group of participants annually. He has been awarded a research grant under the British Academy/Leverhulme Small Research Grants SRG 2019 and has successfully supervised numerous Ph.D. candidates to completion. Furthermore, he has secured a major research grant under the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) from the Government of India.

Dr. Nandakumar has played a pivotal role in advancing the Association of MBAs (AMBA) accreditation project at IIMK and is an empanelled assessor for AMBA, having evaluated leading business schools during accreditation events. As a member of BAM since 2006, he has actively presented numerous academic papers on the Entrepreneurship track at BAM annual conferences. As a senior member, he is committed to contributing to the development of this track.

Through his research, teaching, and leadership, Dr. Nandakumar exemplifies a dedication to academic excellence and the advancement of knowledge in management and entrepreneurship.

I serve as an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Coventry University and a committee member of the BAM’s Continental Network, possessing over 15 years of academic and professional experience. As a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, I have exhibited proficiency in pedagogy, mentorship, and scholarly research. During my career, I have directed multiple research projects, obtained external funding, and fostered international collaborations. I have assumed leadership positions, notably as Deputy Director at the International Centre for Transformational Entrepreneurship, where I executed strategies to augment the Centre’s global influence.

As an Entrepreneurship Track chair, my objective is to enhance the prominence of entrepreneurship education and research by fostering collaboration and innovation within the SIG community. I intend to implement initiatives that connect academic research with practical entrepreneurial applications, cultivating a conducive environment for members to exchange ideas and disseminate best practices. I seek to enhance our collaboration with entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry leaders to guarantee that our research stays pertinent and influential. By creating a dynamic network of scholars and practitioners, I intend to foster innovative research collaborations, enhance professional development opportunities, and promote entrepreneurial education among BAM’s members and beyond.

My name is Dr Md Imtiaz Mostafiz. I am the Deputy Associate Dean of Research Excellence and Associate Professor in Strategy and International Business at the University of Leicester Business School, University of Leicester, UK. I am honoured to have received the Global Talent Award from the British Academy. I am also a Peer Review College Member of the Economic and Social Research Council – UK Research and Innovation and the British Academy of Management.

I am excited to submit my expression of interest for the role of Conference Track Chair in the Entrepreneurship Track at the British Academy of Management. This position represents an organic opportunity to shape the future direction of entrepreneurship research and foster meaningful connections among scholars in this dynamic field at BAM. In 2024, I organized the Entrepreneurship SIG conference for the first time at the University of Leicester, UK. This accomplishment is a testament to my passion for entrepreneurship research and, combined with my leadership experience in early career research development, positions me well to contribute to the continued growth of the Entrepreneurship Track.

To create further value, I plan to introduce several initiatives to enhance the overall conference experience. I will focus on integrating cross-disciplinary perspectives to encourage collaboration between entrepreneurship scholars and those in related SIGs in areas such as strategy, innovation, and international business at BAM. This will help uncover new research intersections and foster creative approaches to addressing contemporary entrepreneurial challenges.

With experience organizing conferences, Charing sessions, handling special issue calls for papers in entrepreneurship, running paper development workshops both in-house and at the BAM annual conference, and leading early career research development initiatives; I am well-equipped to continue the legacy of the previous Track Chair. I will work closely with the SIG Chair and other key members of the SIG to promote informal sessions where early career researchers can engage with established scholars, offering them a platform to receive guidance and feedback on their scholarly work. This will elevate the quality of contributions and foster a more inclusive and supportive community within the track. I also plan to leverage virtual participation and hybrid models to ensure diverse voices are heard, enriching discussions and broadening the track’s impact. In addition to traditional presentations, I will introduce and promote interactive sessions, such as roundtables and networking opportunities, to help build stronger connections and generate actionable insights for researchers and practitioners.

I am confident that as a Track Chair, I will carry forward the Entrepreneurship Track at the British Academy of Management flourish, drive new research frontiers, and contribute to building a vibrant and engaged scholarship community.

Hello! I’m Dr. Roopa Nagaraju, and I am excited to announce my candidacy for the position of Track Chair for the BAM Entrepreneurship Special Interest Group (SIG).

I currently work as the Senior Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University. My research interests center around women entrepreneurs in emerging markets and innovative teaching methods for entrepreneurship teaching. With a passion for Entrepreneurship teaching and research, I have actively engaged in the BAM ENT SIG activities for the past eight years. I am currently serving my second term as Secretary. This experience has given me a strong understanding of the SIG's activities and objectives, and I am eager to leverage this knowledge to make a meaningful impact in the role of Track Chair.

As Track Chair, my vision is to foster a vibrant community that prioritizes networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration within the ENT SIG. I plan to organize engaging events, workshops, and mentorship programs designed to empower our members and help them turn their ideas into reality. I am also committed to amplifying diverse voices within our research community, ensuring that our SIG serves as an inclusive platform for all.

Together, we can build a thriving ecosystem that inspires innovation and drives success. I would be honoured to have your support in this endeavour! Thank you for considering my candidacy.