Alisa Sydow is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at ESCP Business School. She primarily teaches entrepreneurship and corporate entrepreneurship with a focus on new technologies and impact.

Her research interests center on entrepreneurship in emerging markets, particularly Kenya and South Africa. She focuses on technology and women's entrepreneurship. She has authored articles published in leading management journals such as Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice and the Journal of Business Venturing, as well as case studies and papers presented at international conferences including the Academy of Management (AOM), European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS), and European Academy of Management (EURAM).

Recently, she was selected as part of the 2025 cohort of Thinkers50 Radar, highlighting her as one of the leading emerging voices shaping the future of management and entrepreneurship.

Alisa holds a Ph.D. in Management and Innovation from the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan.

Outside of academia, Alisa founded Nampelka, a start-up that provides continuous, tailored, and accessible support to African entrepreneurs.

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18 publications

Academic Articles

2024

SYDOW, A., L. FERRI, C. DE BERNARDI

Intra-family succession motivating eco-innovation: A study of family firms in the German and Italian wine sector

JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION

Academic Articles

2024

SYDOW, A., A. ARGIOLAS, H. RAWHOUSEER

Social entrepreneurs concerned about Impact Drift. Evidence from contexts of persistent and pervasive need

JOURNAL OF BUSINESS VENTURING, 39 (1)

Conference Proceedings

2024

MESTWERDT, S., A. SYDOW, N. BURKERT, M. , J. MROZEWSKI

Trust Formation in New Ventures’ Cross-Border Stakeholder Relationships-Evidence from South Africa

Academy of Management (AOM)

Conference Proceedings

2023

SYDOW, A., C. BOHLAYER

Introducing a Verification Process between Identity Reconstruction and Opportunity (Re)Evaluati

Academy of Management (AOM)

Conference Proceedings

2023

SYDOW, A., A. ARGIOLAS, H. RAWHOUSEER

Social Enterpise in Contexts of Persistent and Overwhelming Need. An Approach to Avoid Impact Drift

Academy of Management (AOM)

Academic Articles

2022

DE BERNARDI, C., A. SYDOW

Am I an environmental entrepreneur? On the evolution of entrepreneurial identity

JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION, 347

Academic Articles

2022

SYDOW, A., B. CANNATELLI, A. GIUDICI, M. MOLTENI

Entrepreneurial Workaround Practices in Severe Institutional Voids: Evidence From Kenya

ENTREPRENEURSHIP THEORY AND PRACTICE, 46(2), 331-367

Chapters

2022

SYDOW, A., I. MAGGIONI

The new rise of artisanship in Kenya: evidence from artisan entrepreneurs

In: In The Artisan Brand, Jon Mulholland, Alessandra Ricci, and Marta Massi Edward Elgar, 157-176

Conference Proceedings

2022

COFFMAN, C., A. SYDOW, S. SUNNY

Coffman, C. D., Sydow, A., & Sunny, S. A. (2022). The Effect of Institutional Level on Embedded Agency Among Institutional Entrepreneurs

Academy of Management (AOM)

Conference Proceedings

2022

SUCCI, C., A. SYDOW, D. LEHMANN, R. MAUER

Towards an Effectual Approach in Succession Planning and Talent Management: Evidence from Multi-Generational Family Businesses in the Italian Wine Industry

Effectuation Conference