Chair of Organization and International Management
Chair of Organization and International Management
Portrait: Dr. Mahsa Samsami
Dr. Mahsa Samsami
Research Associate

Current Research Interests

  • Entrepreneurship

  • Entrepreneurial Tradition

  • Family business

  • Women entrepreneurship

  • International business

  • Innovation

  • Digitalization

  • Sustainability

Publications

  • Samsami, M., I. Mira Solves, J. M. Mateo, T. Schøtt. 2024. “Digitalisation promoting environmental and social sustainability in startups: Embedded in rural and urban ecosystems.” In: Sustainability and Rural Enterprise Economy: Economic, Environmental and Social Transformation. Routledge, edited by S. Gretzinger, B. Leick, and T. Makkonen. (in press).

  • El Kolaly, Hoda; Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, T. 2023 “Female and male business angels funding family-related entrepreneurs: Embedded in high growth and low wealth in emerging economies”, The de Gruyter Handbook of Women Entrepreneurs in Emerging Countries, edited by Helle Neergaard, Maribel Guerrero, Breda Kenny, and Friederike Welter. (In press).

  • Širec, K., Samsami, M., & Schøtt, T. (2023) Born Globals and Born Sustainables: Motives of Accumulating Wealth and of Making a Difference in the World. Organizacija, 56(4), 342-351. https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2023-0023

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Peña Legazkue, Iñaki; Barakat, Shima. 2023. (online first) “The impact of entrepreneurial ecosystems in reducing the gender disparity in entrepreneurship”, European Journal of International Management. 10.1504/EJIM.2023.10060155

  • Samsami, Mahsa; El Kolaly, Hoda; Gonzalez-Pernia, Jose L; Boutaleb, Fatima. 2023. (online first) “Gender roles shaping the entrepreneurial mindset: Embedded in the entrepreneurial ecosystem and impacted by the pandemic”, European Journal of International Management. 10.1504/EJIM.2022.10060156

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Meyer, Natanya; Bowmaker-Falconer; Angus. 2023. “Business Angel Finance for Women Entrepreneurs in South Africa”. Women’s Report 2023: Women Entrepreneurs, edited by Anita Bosch. The Stellenbosch Business School. https://www.womensreport.africa/wr2023-paper-two/

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, T. 2022. ”The spiral of innovation and digitalization: Innovation shaped by early and recent digitalization and shaping intended future adoption.” International Review of Entrepreneurship, 20(4): 541-560. http://hdl.handle.net/2262/102684

  • Samsami, Mahsa. 2023. “Business angels’ ties with entrepreneurs in traditional and secular-rational societies: China, Egypt, and Iran contrasted Germany and Norway”, European Journal of International Management, 21(2). 234-255. https://doi.org/10.1504/EJIM.2023.133426

  • Samsami, Mahsa; El Kolaly, Hoda; Schøtt, T. 2022. “Business angels’ ties with entrepreneurs: Embedded in traditional and secular-rational cultures”, Developments in Entrepreneurial Finance and Technology, edited by David Audretsch, Maksim Belitski, and Nada Rejeb, Edward Elgar Publ. ISBN: 9781800884335, Chapter 10, 182-198. https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/gbp/developments-in-entrepreneurial-finance-and-technology-9781800884335.html

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Tønnessen, Øystein; Flåten, Bjørn-Tore. 2023 “Entrepreneurial orientation confronting disruption: Embedded in networks in Iran and Norway during the COVID-19 pandemic”, European Journal of International Management, 21(9): 192-219. https://doi.org/10.1504/EJIM.2023.133427.

  • Slavica Singer, Nataša Šarlija, Alicia Coduras, Sanja Pfeifer, Sunčica Oberman Peterka, Miroslav Rebernik, Ana Fernández-Laviada, Mahsa Samsami and Barbara Bradač Hojnik. 2022. “GEM lenses on UN SDGs”. Entrepreneurship and Well-being: Exploring the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the Lenses of GEM and other Indicators, edited by Slavica Singer, Nataša Šarlija, Miroslav Rebernik, Barbara Bradač Hojnik, 89-151. Cham: Springer Nature, Switzerland. Chapter 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-19181-7_5

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, T. 2022. “Past, present, and future digitalization around the world: Leading, catching up, forging ahead, and falling behind”. Our Economy: Contemporary Issues in Economics and Business, Naše gospodarstvo/Our Economy 68(3):1-9. http://ng-epf.si/index.php/ngoe/article/view/298

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, T. 2021. “Family and non-family business in Iran: Coupling among innovation, exporting, and growth-expectation”, European Journal of Family Business. 11(2), 40-55. https://doi.org/10.24310/ejfbejfb.v11i2.10444

  • Liu, Ye; Samsami, Mahsa; Meshreki, Hakim; Pereira Laverde, Fernando; Schøtt, T. 2021. “Sustainable Development Goals in strategy and practice: Businesses in Colombia and Egypt”, Sustainability. 13(22), 12453, 15, https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212453

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Wagner, Ralf. 2021. “Investment decisions with endogeneity: A Dirichlet tree analysis”, Journal of Risk and Financial Management. 14(7), 299; 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm14070299

  • Miremadi, Alireza; Samsami, Mahsa; Eftekharian Qamsari, Alireza. 2017. “The study of influential integrated marketing communication on Iranian consumer buying behaviour for imported branded cars: Datis Khodro”, International Business Research Journal, 10(12), 148-158. ISSN1913-004. E-ISSN1913-9012.

Books and Reports

  • Bowmaker-Falconer, Angus; Meyer, Natanya; Samsami, Mahsa; 2023. Entrepreneurial Resilience during Economic Turbulence 2022/2023. Stellenbosch University: Stellenbosch, South Africa. https://www.gemconsortium.org/economy-profiles/south-africa

  • Elam, Amanda; Hughes, Karen; Samsami, Mahsa. 2023. GEM 2022/2023 Women’s Entrepreneurship Report: Challenging Bias and Stereotypes. Association.https://www.gemconsortium.org/reports/womens-entrepreneurship

  • Fernández Fernández, Loreto; Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, T. 2023. El compromiso con la sostenibilidad en las empresas españolas (The commitment to sustainability in Spanish businesses). https://www.gem-spain.com/publicaciones-2/page/4/

  • Elam, Amanda; Baumer, Benjaminn S, Schøtt; T., Samsami, Mahsa; Kumar Dwivedi, Amit; Zurkinden; Baldegger, Rico; Guerrero, Maribel; Boutaleb, Fatem; Hughes, Karen. 2022. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2021/22 Women's Entrepreneurship Report: From Crisis to Opportunity. Global Entrepreneurship Research Association, https://www.gemconsortium.org/reports/womens-entrepreneurship

  • Fernández Fernández, Loreto; Ruzo-Sanmartín, Emilio; Fernández-López, Sara; Rey-Ares, Lucía; Neira, Isabel; Guillermo, Andrés Zapata-Huamaní; Atrio, Yago; Samsami, Mahsa. 2022. Informe Ejecutivo GEM Galicia 2021-2022 (Regional Spanish Report Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) ISBN: 978-84-09-45400-6, https://www.gem-spain.com/informes-regionales/

  • Laviada, Ana Fernandez; Calvo, Nuria; Neira, Isabel; Samsami, Mahsa; Atrio, Yago; Esther Barros. 2022. Informe Ejecutivo GEM 2021-2022 (National Spanish Report Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Report GEM Spain 2021-2022), Vol. 262: Universidad de Cantabria. https://www.gem-spain.com/informes-nacionales/

Conference Contributions

  • Schøtt, T; Samsami, Mahsa “Family tradition in the global race to digitalize: Is Germany catching up, forging ahead, or falling behind”. Presented at FIFU 2024 Conference, Munich, Germany, March 2023.

  • Perez-Encinas, Adriana; Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, T. “Professionalization of ‘the entrepreneur’: Spain 2002-2022”. Presented at G-Forum 2023 Conference, Darmstadt, Germany, September 2023.

  • Schøtt, Thomas; Samsami, Mahsa; Bowmaker-Falconer; Angus. “Resilience in societies and their businesses: Enhancing innovation in businesses based on family tradition”. Presented at G-Forum 2023 Conference, Darmstadt, Germany, September 2023.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Angoitia Grijalba, Miguel; Bueno Hernández, Yolanda; Schøtt, Thomas. “Born sustainable: Promoted by the ecosystem for sustainable entrepreneurship”. Presented at G-Forum 2023 Conference, Darmstadt, Germany, September 2023.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Meyer, Natanya; Schøtt, Thomas. “Digital entrepreneurial ecosystems around the world: Promoting adoption and utilization of digital technology for innovation”. Presented at G-Forum 2023 Conference, Darmstadt, Germany, September 2023.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Fernández Lavíada, Ana; Pereira Laverde, Fernando; Boutaleb, Fatima; Ismail, Karadeniz, Esra; Ayman; Schøtt, Thomas. “The entrepreneurial ecosystem in rural regions: Transforming entrepreneurs’ values and pursuits of sustainability”. Discussed at Rural Entrepreneurship in Times of Transformation Paper Development Workshop, Special Issue of Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, Kalmar, Sweden, June 2023. Also presented at IRMBAM2023, Nice, France, July 2023, nominated for the Best Paper Award.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, Thomas. “Changing values motivating entrepreneurs to start and to pursue sustainability”. Presented at Paper Development Workshop on Values and Entrepreneurship in the Sustainable Society, Special Issue of Small Business Economics, Berlin, June 2023.

  • Samsami, Mahsa. “Digital entrepreneurial ecosystems around the world: Enabling adoption and utilization of digital technology for innovation. Presented and discussed at Paper Development Workshop, Technical University of Denmark, June 2023.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, Thomas, Calabrò, Andrea. “The tradition in a family for enterprising: Shaped by society and shaping socio-environmental responsibility”. Presented at 15th International Week and the 7th International Scientific Conference, University of Maribor, Slovenia, May 2023.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Wickstrøm, Kent Adsbøll; Schøtt, Thomas. ”The entrepreneurial tradition in a family: Embedded in society’s institution of family business and promoting exploitation of opportunities”. Presented at the STEP Project Global Consortium - Global Family Business conference, Valencia, April 2023.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, Thomas. ”Society’s institution for family business: Enhancing internationalization in family firms”. Presented at the STEP Project Global Consortium - Global Family Business conference, Valencia, April 2023.

  • Samsami, Mahsa. ”The spiral of innovation and digitalization: Innovation shaped by early and recent digitalization and shaping intended future adoption”. Presented at the DRUID Academy Conference, Aalborg, January 2023.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Neira, Isabel; Calvo, Nuria; Schøtt, Thomas “Embedding values and awareness into strategy and practice for sustainable growth: Differences between family and non-family businesses”. Presented at the annual RENT – Research in Entrepreneurship conference, Naples, Italy, November 2022.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Neira, Isabel; Schøtt, Thomas “Awareness, strategies, and practices of environmental sustainability: Shaped by values in family and nonfamily businesses”. Presented at VII Research Workshop on Entrepreneurship GEM-ACEDE, Valencia, Spain, September 2022, This paper received the conference Best Paper Award.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Paula, San Martin Espina; Ana, Fernandez; Estefania, Palazuelos Cobo; Schøtt, Thomas. “Born digital: Innovation, internationalization, and growth-expected shaped by age and digitalization of business”. Presented at VII Research Workshop on Entrepreneurship GEM-ACEDE, Valencia, Spain, September 2022.

  • Schøtt, Thomas; Samsami, Mahsa; Esther Barros; “The influence of human and social capital on entrepreneurial intention: Embedded in regional institutions”. Presented at VII Research Workshop on Entrepreneurship GEM-ACEDE, Valencia, Spain, September 2022.

  • Samsami, Mahsa. “Family tradition and sustainability”. Presented and discussed at the Paper Development Workshop, University of Southern Denmark, September 2022.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, Thomas. “Institutionalization of continuing family tradition in business: Shaping an entrepreneurial mindset resilient to the pandemic in the Islamic world”. Presented at International Conference on Family Business: A Focus on the Arab World, Morocco, ESCA Ecole. July 2022.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Neira, Isabel; Calvo, Nuria; Schøtt, Thomas. “‘Continuing a family tradition’ as a motive for business: Effect on expectation for growth”. Presented at IFERA Conference, the International Family Enterprise Research Academy, Santander, June 2022, nominated for the Best Paper Award.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Neira, Isabel; Calvo, Nuria; Schøtt, Thomas. “Entrepreneurial motives and innovation: Differences between family and non-family businesses”. Presented at the XXXI international congress organized by the Scientific Association of Economics and Business Management (ACEDE), Barcelona, June 2022.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Neira, Isabel; Schøtt, Thomas. “Strategy and practices for sustainability: Comparison between family and non-family businesses”. Presented at the International Association for Research in Economic Psychology Conference, Kristiansand, June 2022.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Tolba, Ahmed. “Disruption of innovation in family businesses in Egypt”. Presented at the 6th International Workshop on Entrepreneurship Research GEM-ACEDE, September 2021, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain. This paper received the conference Best Paper Award.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Wagner, Ralf; Schøtt, Thomas. “Handling of missing values: Learnings from a survey of entrepreneurs”. Presented online at the European Conference on Data Analysis (ECDA). August 2021.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, Thomas. “Family and non-family business in Iran: Coupling among innovation, exporting, and growth-expectation”. Presented online at the Conference on Family Business in the Arab World. November 2020.

  • Samsami, Mahsa; Schøtt, Thomas. “Coupled performance outcomes in family and non-family businesses: Gaps in mature economies but the similarity in emerging economies”. Presented online at the Conference on Family Business in the Arab World. (FBAW November 2020). Presented in 2021 at the Spanish webinar in the field of Family Business: An approach from GEM data.

Education

  • PhD degree, University of Agder, School of Business (AACSB International), Norway, August 2023. PhD dissertation “The Entrepreneurial Tradition: Institutionalized in a Culture and in a Family. Navigating from Gold to Green”.

  • Master of Business Administration - Marketing, University of Tehran, Iran, 2018. Master thesis “The ultimate influences of electronic Word-Of-Mouth on brand social power”.

Academic Work Experience

  • Since April 2024: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Chair of Organization and International Management, Chemnitz University of Technology

  • Since August 2023: Research Associate, University of Agder (AACSB INTERNATIONAL), Norway

  • Since August 2023: Research Fellow, Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa

  • Since May 2023: Member of GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) team in South Africa. Technical and researcher

  • August 2022- August 2023: University of Southern Denmark, SDU, Research Assistance

  • September 2021-January 2023: Member of GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) team in Spain

Review

  • Reviewing submissions to Review of Managerial Science (2023-Present)
  • Reviewing submissions to International Review of Entrepreneurship (2023- Present)
  • Reviewing submissions to International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing (2023-Present)
  • Reviewing submissions to Management Decision (2021-Present)
  • Reviewing submissions to European Journal of International Management (2021-Present)

Honors

  • Nominated for the Best Paper Award for “The entrepreneurial ecosystem in rural regions: Transforming entrepreneurs’ values and engagement with sustainability”. Presented at IRMBAM2023, Nice, France, July 2023.

  • Best Paper Award for “Awareness, strategies, and practices of environmental sustainability: Shaped by values in family and nonfamily businesses”. Presented at VII Research Workshop on Entrepreneurship GEM-ACEDE, Valencia, Spain. September 2022.

  • Nominated for the Best Paper Award for “Continuing a family tradition as a motive for business: Effect on expectation for growth”. Presented at IFERA Conference, the International Family Enterprise Research Academy, Santander, June 2022.

  • Best Paper Award for “Disruption of innovation in family businesses in Egypt”. Presented at the 6th International Workshop on Entrepreneurship Research GEM-ACEDE, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain, September 2021.

  • Top Student (1st rank) in Master’s Degree of Business Administration- Marketing at University of Tehran- International Campus.

  • The top thesis with the highest evaluation score at the Dr. Hesabi's top thesis festival.

  • Top and prominent researcher and student at the International Academy of Scientific Research of Iran.

Industrial Work Experience

  • Member of Board (October 2020 – February 2023), Aban Securities Co. Iran Stock Exchange, Tehran

  • Executive and Administrative Manager (March 2007 – September 2021), an Securities Co. Iran Stock Exchange, Tehran Member of the board in Aban Securities, Executive Administration, Member of the Board in Hoshmand Aban Mutual Market Investment Fund, Customer relationship manager, Business development, Human resource manager, Responsible for correspondence, negotiations, and trade agreements and contracts in fields of IT, Marketing, and Human Resources.

Teaching Portfolio at Chemnitz University of Technology

Master

  • Managing Global Networks and Cooperations (Tutorial) (English) (Summer 24)
  • Advances in Organization and International Management II (Seminar) (English) (Winter 24/25)
  • Supervision of Master Theses (English)
  • Students Project
    • Family Business and Internationalization (Summer 24 – Winter 24/25) (English)

Bachelor

  • International Strategy (Tutorial) (English) (Summer 24)
  • Supervision of Bachelor Theses (English)