Dr. Olav Sorenson

Biography

Olav Sorenson joined the UCLA Anderson faculty in 2020. His primary stream of research pertains to economic geography, with a focus on how entrepreneurship influences the growth and competitiveness of regions and countries that appear supportive of entrepreneurs. Sorenson's interest in entrepreneurship was sparked during his graduate school years in the mid-1990s at Stanford, when he observed many individuals, including his brother, becoming involved in startups. This led him to question why Silicon Valley thrived compared to other locations, particularly the role of social capital in entrepreneurial success. His research has garnered significant recognition, including the 2018 Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research. Additionally, Sorenson explores the relationships between basic science and innovation, organizations, customer interactions, and manufacturing experiences. He has delivered over 400 research presentations and published more than 100 papers in prestigious journals, including Science, the American Journal of Sociology, and the Strategic Management Journal. He serves as the department editor for Management Science and has held editorial positions with numerous journals. Beyond his research and teaching duties, Sorenson is the faculty research director of the Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He previously taught strategy courses at UCLA Anderson from 1999 to 2005. Before returning to Anderson, he held positions at Yale School of Management and the University of Toronto, and has served on faculties at esteemed institutions including the London Business School and the University of Chicago.

Research Interests