Dr. Marya Besharov

Biography

Marya Besharov is a Professor of Organisations Impact and the Academic Director of the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. Her research and teaching focus on leadership, social impact, and hybrid organisations, engaging with leaders across the globe to assist them in managing the competing demands of social impact and financial performance. Marya received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies, a Master of Arts in Sociology, and a PhD in Organisational Behaviour from Harvard University, alongside an MBA from Stanford University. Her scholarly work investigates the ways organisations and their leaders handle conflicting aims, with a noteworthy emphasis on hybrid organisations and social enterprises that strive to tackle profound societal issues while also generating financial returns. Her research has been published in prominent journals like the Administrative Science Quarterly and the Academy of Management Journal, as well as practical platforms such as the Harvard Business Review and Stanford Social Innovation Review. Marya actively collaborates with leaders from the business and social sectors, contributing to research initiatives and educational programmes at the Skoll Centre. Additionally, she facilitates seminars and workshops on leadership and managing competing demands, providing frameworks and tools for participants to navigate complex social systems and achieve positive social impacts.

Research Interests