Dr Joanne J. Zhang

Profile

Roles:

• Deputy Director, Education (SBM)
• Director of Entrepreneurship Hub and QM Social Venture Fund
• Member of the Department of Business and Society

Biography:

Joanne is a Reader in Entrepreneurship and the Deputy Director of Education at SBM. She is the Winner of Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year, Triple E European Award 2022. She was also awarded the QM President and Principal's Education Excellence Award in 2021.

Joanne is the founding director of the SBM Entrepreneurship Hub and QM social venture fund - the first student-led social venture fund investing in student-led social ventures in the UK. Previously she held positions at the University of Cambridge (UK innovation research centre fellow), the University of East Anglia and the City, University of London. 

Driven by her prior entrepreneurial experience in China and the UK, Joanne’s scholarship and teaching interests are entrepreneurship, innovation, and entrepreneurship education. Joanne has led and engaged in large-scale grant bidding, delivery and external dissemination, including SKETCH “Student Knowledge Exchange Through Community Hubs” (£650K, Research England and Office for students, QMUL), “New Modes of Innovation: Managerial and Strategic Business Practice and Open Innovation” (£5m, ESRC supported, Cambridge and Imperial), “Financial and Organizational innovation in UK Biotechnology sector” (£1.3m, EPSRC supported, City University and SPRU). Joanne was an invited speaker at international conferences held by OECD, NESTA and Technology Strategy Board.

Joanne is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). She gained her MBA and PhD in Management Studies from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), City, University of London (SIMFONEC scholarship).

Teaching

Undergraduate:

• BUS342: Start-Ups and Incubators

Postgraduate:

• BUSM186:  Strategic Entrepreneurship

Dr Zhang has considerable teaching experience at UG, PG and Executive Education level and has been nominated for the Education award 2019 in two categories – Teacher of the year as well as assessment and feedback champion.

She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). 

In 2021 Joanne was awarded the President and Principal's Education Excellence Award for innovative and mission-aligned Social Venture Fund, run by student directors investing in local and responsible alumni-owned enterprises. 

Research

Public Engagement

Dr Zhang has been an invited speaker at OECD, NESTA, Technology Strategy Board as well as advisors to start-ups. Some examples:

• Why we launched a social venture fund to empower students by Dr Joanne Zhang https://www.londonfirst.co.uk/news-publications/blog/why-we-launched-a-student-led-social-venture-fund
• Panellist, Entrepreneurs Raleigh lecture, the Guild of Entrepreneurs, Drapers’ Hall, Dec 2019, London, UK.
• Panellist, The 5th Future Ed in Higher Education Conference, June 2019, London, UK
• “Open innovation choice – what is British enterprise doing?” Presented at OECD, Paris & NESTA, London, May/June 2012

Building boards and advisors for high tech start-ups: ESPRC project showcase event. (Conference) Bayes Business School (formerly Cass), City University of London, Session/Day Chair and Organising Committee. June 2009.

Scholarly Contributions

Centre and Group Membership:

• Affiliate Member of the Business Ecosystems Research Group (BERG)

Pedagogic Publications:

• Zhang, J. J.; Zhang, J.; Baden-Fuller, C. 2022, "The dynamics of entrepreneurial networking logics: evidence from United Kingdom high-tech start-ups". International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol 28 (9), pp 405-426. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-12-2021-1040 
• Zhang, J. J. 2021. “Student-managed venture fund (SMVFs): an innovative pedagogy of entrepreneurship education”. British Academy of Management Conference Proceedings 2021.
• Zhang, J. J.; Baden-Fuller, C.; Zhang, J.  2020. “The co-existence of causation and effectuation in entrepreneurial network development: evidence from UK high-tech start-ups”. Academy of Management conference proceedings 2020.
• Zhang, J.J., Lichtenstein, Y; Gander, J., 2015. “Designing scalable digital business model”. Business models and modelling, Advances in Strategic Management Vol 33, p241-277. https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/full/10.1108/S0742-332220150000033006
• Cosh, A.D. & Zhang, J.J. 2012 'Variety of search and innovation: a comparative study of US manufacturing and knowledge intensive business services sectors.' Centre for Business Research Working Papers Series WP No. 431. University of Cambridge.
• Zhang, J. J., Baden-Fuller, C.; Pool, J. K. 2011. "Resolving the Tensions between Monitoring, Resourcing and Strategizing: Structures and Processes in High Technology Venture Boards". Long Range Planning (ABS 3* Research Journal), 44 Issue 2, p95-117.
  https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy.library.qmul.ac.uk/science/article/pii/S0024630110000750
• Cosh, A. and Zhang, J.J. 2011. Open innovation choice – what is British enterprise doing? UK Innovation Research Centre, University of Cambridge. ISBN 978‐0‐906251‐21‐8
  https://www.jbs.cam.ac.uk/fileadmin/user_upload/centre-for-business-research/downloads/special-reports/specialreport-openinnovationchoices.pdf
• Zhang, J.J. and Baden-Fuller, C. 2008. “Knowledge brokering in high-tech start-ups” in Scarbrough, H. (ed.) Evolution of Business Knowledge, UK: Oxford University Press.
• Zhang, J.J. and Baden-Fuller, C. 2006. “Mentoring fast growth start-ups: A Chairman’s tale”. European Case Handbook. Gate2growth/EIASM.
• Zhang, J.J. and Baden-Fuller, C. 2006. “The Phynova story—commericializing knowledge from China”. European Case Handbook, Gate2growth/EIASM.
• Sachs, A. Marino, A. Zhang, J.J. Jackson, T. and Peters, L. 2003. “The value in Fashion: Analysing Fashion companies”, Centre for Fashion Enterprise, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, UK.
• McGurk, P., and Zhang, J. J. 2022. “Values-led authentic learning in a business school: student-led social impact venture fund and community impact projects”. Presented at Advanced Higher Education Teaching and Learning Conference, 5-7 July 2022.
• McGurk, P., and Zhang, J. J. 2022. “Mix them up, or scale it up? Doing employability and enterprise work outside and/or within the formal curriculum”. Presented at Chartered ABS, Learning, Teaching and Student Experience Conference, May 2022
• McGurk, P., Zhang, J., Ahmed, F., and Reid O.  2021 “How to revitalise student knowledge exchange with local communities. Times Higher Education online, 25th Nov 2021. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/how-revitalise-student-knowledge-exchange-local-communities