When you won the ANPAD "Young Researcher" award for your work, what was your reaction?
This is really an incredibly wonderful recognition. ANPAD is the biggest academy of management in Brazil, with no less than 11 divisions! I am very honoured to have been recognised by my peers. This prize is awarded to researchers who have fulfilled the requirements, one of them being receiving a Ph.D. degree less than five years ago. That's why the name of the award is "Young Researcher", even though I'm not exactly young age wise. Through this prize, the jury has recognised my scientific production in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship and international marketing. I also know that my position as an associate professor at SKEMA might have played an important role in the final decision. In Brazil, despite being a new school, SKEMA Business School is perceived as a school of global importance.
What is your professional and academic background?
I spent 15 years studying international marketing. About 10 years ago, I changed my focus to specialize in global innovation and entrepreneurship as there was more potential for me to contribute to this knowledge area based on my background. Today, I am a specialist in emerging markets and I help companies develop products and services that are good for the planet in a constantly changing global context.
Your scientific output is widely reported in the Brazilian and international scientific press, so this must have worked in your favour, right?
I publish my articles in English, which is unusual in my field in Brazil. Most of the articles published are in Portuguese. My recent appointment as the editor-in-chief of the Iberoamerican Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (REGEPE) has given me national and international visibility. This journal is very popular in Brazil within the scientific community. I also serve as a scientific editor of three other academic journals in Brazil and abroad.
What advice would you give to a young academic researcher?
I would tell him/her to have a well-planned career and have a global perspective in mind, aligning their purpose with the demands of today's world. Nowadays, you must reach out and put your knowledge to the test, whether it's in business or society. It's important to provide real and applied contributions to our society. We need to make this world and people's lives better.