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Linda Edelman counts herself “so lucky” to be able to work with Bentley’s graduate students. As a Professor of Strategic Management, her research focuses on small firms, entrepreneurship, and the experiences of women entrepreneurs, and she teaches courses on strategic management and innovation. She holds both a DBA and an MBA from Boston University.

How did you get started teaching in your field?

I have always been interested in how the different aspects of a company fit together.  To me, this is more exciting than any one of those individual parts.  When I took my first course in Strategic Management during my MBA program many years ago, I knew that I had found my intellectual home.  Since then, I have been teaching, commenting on, and learning about firm strategy. 

What excites you about the research you’re working on now?

Most of my work is at the intersection of strategy and entrepreneurship.  I look at strategies around value creation.  I am particularly interested in entrepreneurship through a gendered lens.  Many women are interested in pursuing an entrepreneurial career.   However, the impediments to women starting a high-growth business are significant.  One of my research objectives is to illuminate some of the challenges faced by women, and then to offer some solutions. 

What are the top professions this degree program will prepare students for?

The course that I teach, Strategic Management, is part of a wider MBA curriculum.  Unlike many of the courses in the functional disciplines that prepare students for a particular career path, Strategic Management prepares students for every career in that it hones critical thinking skills.  However, one career in which strategy is imperative is management consulting.

What educational background will be most helpful to students coming into your program?

No particular educational background is needed to succeed in a Strategic Management course.  What is needed is an overall intellectual curiosity.  Often the strongest strategy students have an ability to make sense out of myriad different and conflicting information.  In essence, they can handle ambiguity.

What’s your favorite thing about working with Bentley graduate students?

I absolutely love working with Bentley graduate students.  Bentley students are bright, interesting and full or wonderful ideas.  I am so lucky to have the opportunity to spend time with them and to discuss different company strategies.