dr. Z (Zhiyan) Wu

Biography

Zhiyan “Z” Wu is an Associate Professor of Strategy at Erasmus University. His research explores the sociopolitical dimension of firms, with a particular focus on corporate governance, social activism, and nonmarket strategy. Z often adopts an abductive approach to his research and is committed to methodological rigor, with a strong emphasis on causal inference. His work has been accepted for publication in the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Management, Management Science, and Organization Science. His research has earned the EBS Best Paper Award, gained recognition in major news outlets in the Netherlands and Sweden, and was featured on the INFORMS podcast, Resoundingly Human.

In his educational roles, Z teaches MSc, MBA/EMBA, and Ph.D. courses at Erasmus University, particularly highlighting causal inference. His innovative teaching methods have earned him the Best New Course of the Year Award in the area of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, and he has been nominated for the prestigious RSM Innovative Teaching Award by his students.

Z has been actively contributing to the Strategic Management Society, where he serves as a representative-at-large in the Research Methods Community and co-organizes panels on causal inference, field experiments, and the usage of AI and machine learning in strategy research.

Outside of academia, Z enjoys gardening, where he applies the same patience and attention to detail that he brings to his professional work.

For more information about his research, teaching, and service, please visit his personal website: sites.google.com/view/zwu.