Profile

Dr Mingchu Wang is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in International Strategy and Business at Newcastle University Business School. He gained his MBA and PhD from Leeds University Business School and has previously worked in Beijing, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and London. He joins Newcastle University from the University of Greenwich, where he was Senior Lecturer in International Business and Lead for PhD Programme in Business.

With over twelve years of experience in academia and industry, Mingchu has built a diverse career that spans higher education, international media, business consultancy, and entrepreneurship. He previously worked as a national bilingual TV host at China Central Television, a columnist, a strategy consultant at Boston Consulting Group, and the founding and managing director of two strategy consulting firms. Dr Wang also served as Vice President of the Chinese Scholars and Students Association in the UK, and has been featured in media outlets such as China Global Television Network, Xinhua News Agency and China Daily in promoting Sino-UK business and research collaborations.

Mingchu received the Best Paper Award at the Journal of Business Venturing Insights Entrepreneurship Academy. He served as the Co-Chair for the Internationalisation Process of SMEs and International Entrepreneurship Track at the Academy of International Business (AIB) MENA Conference 2024. Mingchu currently supervises and welcomes PhD applicants in the field of international knowledge transfer, including the following areas:

• International knowledge transfer via international entrepreneurship
• Sustainability and green transformation in international new ventures
• Entrepreneurial learning, leadership, and identity
• Cross-cultural communication and knowledge co-creation
• Digitalisation, technology, and international talent mobility

Prospective PhD candidates are encouraged to reach out to Mingchu via email with their CV and research proposal.

Qualifications

• Fellowship of Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• PhD in Business and Management, Dean's Award for PhD Achievement, Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds
• MBA with Distinction, Leeds University Business School, University of Leeds
• MSc in Organisational Behaviour and Human Resources Management, Guanghua School of Management, Peking University
• B.Eng. in Computer Engineering, Jilin University

Professional Designations

• Member, Academy of International Business (AIB). Co-Chair of the “Internationalisation Process of SMEs and International Entrepreneurship” Track at AIB-MENA Conference 2024
• Member, Academy of Management (AOM)
• Member, European Group for Organisational Studies (EGOS)
• Member, European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology (EAWOP)
• Reviewer, UKRI Talent Peer Review College
• Member, Peer Review College, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
• Member, British Academy of Management (BAM)
• Member, Peer Review College, BAM
• Representative-at-Large, Entrepreneurship SIG, BAM
• Member, Institute for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE)
• Member, The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network (BA-ECRN)

PhD Supervision

Mingchu welcomes applications from prospective PhD students from around the world who are interested in the aforementioned areas.

Mingchu's PhD students:

• Cong Zhang
• Ibukun J. Lawal

Research Interests

• International knowledge transfer via international entrepreneurship: Exploring how entrepreneurial activities drive cross-border knowledge flows, with a particular focus on the Global South, and graduate entrepreneurs, including both international and home students who start ventures after graduation.
• Sustainability and green transformation in international ventures: Investigating how entrepreneurial firms integrate sustainable strategies, transform business models, and contribute to UN SDGs.
• Entrepreneurial learning, leadership, and identity: Analysing how entrepreneurs acquire knowledge, develop leadership identities, and navigate complex relational dynamics in cross-cultural and international contexts.
• Cross-cultural communication and knowledge co-creation: Examining how international ventures build shared understanding, foster collaboration, and generate strategic value through communication and knowledge exchange.
• Digitalisation, technology, and international talent mobility: Understanding the impact of digital entrepreneurship and technological innovation on talent acquisition, mobility, and knowledge transfer across borders.

Articles

Wang, M., Wei, Y., Wang, C.L. & Azumah, G. (2025). International knowledge transfer through international entrepreneurship: a systematic review and research agenda. International Journal of Management Reviews. pp.1-25. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijmr.12400

Wang, M., Wei, Y., Azumah, G. & Wang, C.L. (2024). African returnees in international knowledge transfer: a social capital perspective. Journal of International Management. 30 (1), 101118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intman.2023.101118

Book Chapter

De Vita, K., Wang, M., Tan, L., von Schomberg, L., & Lawlor-Morrison, N. (2024). The role of technology in promoting student engagement and belonging: A study of Chinese students in the UK. Marginson, S. & Zuoyu, Z. (Eds.) Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: A practical textbook for education practitioners. Springer.

Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

Wang, M., Wei, Y., Wang, C.L. & Azumah, G. Crossing Borders with Brainpower: A Systematic Review on Knowledge Transfer via International Entrepreneurship and Future Research Pathways. British Academy of Management (BAM) Conference 2024.

Wang, D., Wang, S. & Wang, M. Transforming Polluters into Contributors: The Role of Entrepreneurial Learning in the Strategic Shift of High-Polluting Enterprises. Academy of Management (AOM) Annual Meeting 2024.

Wang, M. & Unsworth, K. Rising from the Ashes: Unveiling the Impact of External Shocks on Workplace Relationships in Start-ups. European Group for Organisational Studies (EGOS) 2024.

Wang, M., Azumah, G., Wang, C.L. & Wei, Y. Assessing the Role of International Entrepreneurship in Mobilising Knowledge Across Borders. Migrant Entrepreneurship Research Conference 2023.

De Vita, K., Wang, M., Tan, L., von Schomberg, L., & Lawlor-Morrison, N. Technology in Higher Education – A Double-edged Sword? The International Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM) Conference 2023.

Wang, M., Unsworth, K. & Callinan, M. Bosses or Buddies: How Does Friendship Influence Leader Identity in Entrepreneurial Ventures? Journal of Business Venturing Insights (JBVI) Entrepreneurship Academy 2022. [Best Paper Award].

Wang, M. & Unsworth, K. How Do Pre-existing Friendships Affect the Leader-follower Relationship and Employee Engagement in Small Start-ups? European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology (EAWOP) 2019. [Best Presentation Award].

Online Publication

Entrepreneurs Working with Friends: Is It Better to be the Boss or the Buddy? Research and Innovation Blog. Available at: https://business.leeds.ac.uk/research-wbrc/dir-record/research-blog/2055/entrepreneurs-working-with-friends-is-it-better-to-be-the-boss-or-the-buddy

Leveraging Social Capital for Knowledge Transfer in the Global South: Insights from African Returnees. Networks and Urban Systems Centre Blog. Available at: https://blogs.gre.ac.uk/nusc/2025/02/02/leveraging-social-capital-for-knowledge-transfer-in-the-global-south-insights-from-african-returnees/