Julian Birkinshaw is the new dean of Ivey Business School at Western University in Canada
After spending 25 years at London Business School, Julian Birkinshaw is set to move to a smaller London across the ocean.
On Thursday (February 8), Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ontario, Canada announced that Birkinshaw will be its next dean starting August 1. Although he’s leaving a bustling city, he’s returning to familiar ground: The seasoned professor of strategy and entrepreneurship received his MBA in 1991 and Ph. D. in business administration in 1995 from Ivey.
It was also where he met his wife Laura.
“Doing my MBA at Ivey was very formative,” Birkinshaw says in the announcement of his appointment. “I loved it.”
AUTHOR OF 15 BOOKS & RECIPIENT OF MULTIPLE AWARDS
Currently serving as vice dean at London Business School, Birkinshaw joined LBS as an assistant professor back in April 1999 and became a full professor with tenure by 2004. Originally from Hexham in Northumberland, Great Britain, he has authored 15 books and over 90 scholarly articles. He’s received numerous academic awards, including the prestigious Harvard Business Review Prize in 2022 for his article “How Incumbents Survive and Thrive,” which examined how businesses adapt amid technological disruptions. He holds honorary degrees from both Copenhagen Business School and Stockholm School of Economics, and he’s recognized as a Fellow of the British Academy, Strategic Management Society, and the (American) Academy of Management. He consistently ranks among the Thinkers50 list of top global management thinkers.
In brief, according to Western President Alan Shepard, Birkinshaw is “an internationally renowned scholar in business research and education,” whose “expertise on innovation, digital transformation, and the agility of large multinational firms will be invaluable” to both Ivey and Western.
Birkinshaw takes over from Sharon Hodgson who will retire as Dean on June 30. He transitions from one of the largest business schools globally to one that is about a third smaller: LBS boasts nearly 2,400 students across all programs while Ivey has around 1,600 students. In Poets& Quants‘ ranking for full-time MBA programs at international business schools for 2024, LBS secured the fourth position while Ivey ranked twenty-fifth. In The Financial Times’ global ranking for business schools released in 2023, LBS was placed sixteenth compared to Ivey’s eighty-fourth position (with FT’s updated rankings coming out next week).
EXCITED ABOUT IVEY’S ‘COMMITMENT TO PEDAGOGY’
This change brings some perks too. Since LBS operates independently without being part of a larger university structure-“If you want to teach about climate change or artificial intelligence,” Birkinshaw notes-“you don’t have access to experts like environmental scientists or computer scientists.” However, he feels energized that Ivey is integrated within a comprehensive university filled with specialists in these fields.
During his time as an MBA student at Ivey, Birkinshaw developed what he calls “a belief in innovation and agility,” which is essential for modern business education according to him. This commitment shows through his accomplishments: At LBS he played a key role in launching their master’s program in management back in 2010 followed by another master’s focused on analytics management introduced in 2019. He also led efforts towards digital development prior to COVID-19 by creating online courses that helped keep students engaged when traditional learning faced challenges due to the pandemic-driven by his conviction that B-schools need to embrace change proactively during turbulent times.
Now he’s bringing this mindset across the Atlantic where case-based teaching methods used by Ivey offer what he sees as “opportunities to evolve the world of business education.” His new institution recently celebrated its centennial milestone while implementing significant updates aligned with its strategic plan-“the school has always been about leadership,” he reflects. “Using case studies places students into real-world decision-making situations where they can navigate complex leadership challenges.”
“What excites me most about Ivey is what I’ve experienced regarding learning about how business functions – their dedication towards effective pedagogy empowers individuals to truly grasp how business operates along with solid research that impacts practical applications,” adds Birkinshaw stating these values resonate deeply with him throughout his career journey which align closely with what defines Ivey’s mission.
The thought of transitioning into a smaller school located within a quieter town doesn’t concern him either-“I’m eager to help consolidate Ivey’s status as Canada’s top business school,” he shares enthusiastically.” My time there has significantly influenced my perspective so having this chance shapes future developments greatly excites me.”
‘WE NEED STUDENTS WHO UNDERSTAND THE WAY BUSINESS IMPACTS THE WORLD’
As December approached marking year-end reflections ahead towards upcoming opportunities awaiting just beyond horizon-it inspired conversations surrounding hopes leading into twelve months’ time frame including pressing issues needing solutions recognized distinctly impacting global society today mentioned earlier.
“The economic struggles resulting from cost-of-living pressures remain prevalent alongside geopolitical tensions causing humanitarian concerns globally combined extreme weather occurrences showing signs indicating urgent climate crisis require attention moving forward more than ever before!” stated aspirations expressing desires aimed towards nurturing tomorrow’s leaders equipped tackling modern-day dilemmas effectively within classrooms designed empowering them encourage proactive responsibilities instead waiting passively others dictate agendas.
Ultimately vision seeks develop changemakers capable understanding influence businesses hold over world unafraid accepting roles fostering positive transformations; after all – there isn’t any alternative planet available!” This topic resonates strongly within discussions held throughout career history spanning various platforms including P& Q‘s Centre Court event held June last year featuring engaging dialogue sharing insights pertaining strategies mobilizing B-school graduates effect meaningful changes collectively benefiting humanity overall reflected during interview below:
“The economic struggles resulting from cost-of-living pressures remain prevalent alongside geopolitical tensions causing humanitarian concerns globally combined extreme weather occurrences showing signs indicating urgent climate crisis require attention moving forward more than ever before!” stated aspirations expressing desires aimed towards nurturing tomorrow’s leaders equipped tackling modern-day dilemmas effectively within classrooms designed empowering them encourage proactive responsibilities instead waiting passively others dictate agendas.
Ultimately vision seeks develop changemakers capable understanding influence businesses hold over world unafraid accepting roles fostering positive transformations; after all – there isn’t any alternative planet available!” This topic resonates strongly within discussions held throughout career history spanning various platforms including P& Q‘s Centre Court event held June last year featuring engaging dialogue sharing insights pertaining strategies mobilizing B-school graduates effect meaningful changes collectively benefiting humanity overall reflected during interview below:
