For our Inspirational Women Shaping The Future Of Business Education series we speak with Ha Hoang, Associate Dean for Research at ESSEC Business School

• Name: Ha Hoang
• Position: Associate Dean for Research
• Institution: ESSEC Business School

Professor Hoang is an expert in entrepreneurship, strategy and corporate strategy – all topics on which she teaches across various Masters and executive-level programs at ESSEC Business School, where she also holds the position of Associate Dean for Research.

Professor Hoang gained her PhD from University California, Berkeley, and went on to teach at a number of prestigious institutions before joining ESSEC, including the Weatherhead School of Management in the USA and INSEAD business school in France

“Get a lot of advice and be open to what you are hearing. The goal is to get to a place where you are clear on what advice you won’t follow, as well as what advice you will follow.”

– Ha Hoang

Her interests and research has covered themes of strategic alliances, entrepreneurial ventures, entrepreneurial identity and career transitions, gaining her more than 10,000 citations, according to Google Scholar. Her work has also been published in a number of academic journals including; Administrative Science Quarterly, Journal of Business Venturing, Strategic Management Journal and Strategic Organization, and the journal belonging to the Academy of Management.

Why do you work in education?

I love learning and some of the people who have had the biggest impact on me have been teachers.  As refugees fleeing the Vietnam War, my parents were motivated to leave everything they knew in order to give me and my brothers the opportunities that an education can give you. We were taught to respect teachers and it seemed natural to want to be a part of a world that offers opportunity, personal and professional growth.

It wasn’t until I conducted research as a part of my undergraduate degree that I learned how teaching and research can be combined – and that I wanted to pursue this avenue.

What’s the most rewarding part of your role?

I hope that I can help colleagues identify and pursue research opportunities that interest them. For research faculty, these opportunities are motivated by research questions or ideas that they want to develop more fully.

If, alongside the research center team, we can facilitate this and increase their productivity, then I know we have made a positive contribution.

Please tell us about a challenge you’ve overcome to get to where you are today. What did you learn?

Public speaking is challenging when you are an introvert! It is particularly difficult when speaking to peers, although being in front of students can also strain the nerves.

I learned techniques to increase my effectiveness, but it has been reassuring to know that this is a skill that can be developed. I also try not to put too much pressure on myself just because there are so many excellent speakers who make it seem easy.

Have you ever had a role model? If yes, who? And how have they impacted your career or outlook?

I have learned so much from many people.  I was fortunate enough to have done my first research project for my honors thesis with Professor Martha McClintock, now retired from the University of Chicago and her (then) PhD student Kathleen Stern. Her energy, curiosity and warmth were wonderful to observe.

I also observed the collaborative nature of research and a healthy advisor-advisee relationship.  At the time, I was pursuing a dual degree in Psychology and Economics and found these insights very helpful as I went to pursue a PhD at Haas Business School. 

What advice would you give to others to succeed in their careers?

Get a lot of advice and be open to what you are hearing. The goal is to get to a place where you are clear on what advice you won’t follow, as well as what advice you will follow.  Similarly, when I give advice, I try to remind myself that it is up to them to apply it if they so choose. 

Interested in this series? Keep reading…