Dr Alexandra Dawson
- Professor, Management
- CIBC Distinguished Professorship in Entrepreneurship and Family Business
Are you the profile owner?
Sign in to editContact information
Biography
PhD, Universita' Bocconi, Italy
MSc, London School of Economics, UK
Master's Degree, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy
Dr Alexandra Dawson is a full professor in the Department of Management and holds the CIBC Distinguished Professorship in Entrepreneurship and Family Business.
She has a PhD in Management and Business Administration from Bocconi University, where she was also a post-doctoral fellow, an MSc in Industrial Relations and Human Resources Management from the London School of Economics, and a Master's degree in Economics and Business from the University of Palermo.
Dr Dawson's research examines how individual-level factors - such as identity, commitment, motivation, and the impostor phenomenon - shape decisions and behaviours in contexts where social and economic roles overlap and intergenerational pressures are present, such as entrepreneurial and family businesses, with a particular focus on women. Her research has also examined private equity decision-making when selecting family firms and the effects of founder ownership in young public firms on firm value. She employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the latter including narrative and interpretive approaches.
She has a PhD in Management and Business Administration from Bocconi University, where she was also a post-doctoral fellow, an MSc in Industrial Relations and Human Resources Management from the London School of Economics, and a Master's degree in Economics and Business from the University of Palermo.
Dr Dawson's research examines how individual-level factors - such as identity, commitment, motivation, and the impostor phenomenon - shape decisions and behaviours in contexts where social and economic roles overlap and intergenerational pressures are present, such as entrepreneurial and family businesses, with a particular focus on women. Her research has also examined private equity decision-making when selecting family firms and the effects of founder ownership in young public firms on firm value. She employs both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the latter including narrative and interpretive approaches.
Dr Dawson has published in several leading journals, including Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Organization Studies, Small Business Economics, Family Business Review, Journal of Family Business Strategy, and Corporate Governance: An International Review.
Dr Dawson received the JMSB Dean’s award for distinguished scholarship twice, in 2014 as a mid-career scholar and in 2022 as an established scholar. She is an Associate Editor for Journal of Family Business Strategy. She is also a Review Board member for Family Business Review.
In 2014-17 Dr Dawson was the founding director of Concordia University's National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business. In 2014-19 she led the Concordia Small Business Consulting Bureau (CSBCB), supervising select MBA students offering business consulting services to entrepreneurs and business owners.
Prior to academia, Dr Dawson worked as a strategy consultant in London and Milan for several years, advising businesses and private equity investors.
Associate Editor, Journal of Family Business Strategy
Associate Editor, Journal of Business Research
Associate Editor, Journal of Business Research
Areas of expertise
Entrepreneurship and Family business
Teaching
Entrepreneurship (COMM320)
Entrepreneurial family business (MANA480)
Financing entrepreneurial ventures (MANA482)
Entrepreneurship and new venture creation (EMBA635)
Entrepreneurship and new venture creation (EMBA635)
Publications
Articles (peer reviewed)
Azad Honari, N., Dawson, A., & Chadwick, I.C. (2026, accepted for publication). Mothering legitimacy: The role of mothers in supporting daughters’ legitimacy as successors in an adverse societal context. Journal of Family Business Strategy.
Dawson, A. (2025). Family business goal formation: Exploring individual motivation and the interaction with family, business, and context. Family Business Review, 08944865251380604. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/08944865251380604
Chadwick, I.C. & Dawson, A. (2024). From imposter fears to authenticity: A typology of women entrepreneurs. Small Business Economics, 62(3), 1025-1050. https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/id/eprint/992672/1/Chadwick%20%26%20Dawson_SBE_2023.pdf
Bannò, M., D’Allura, G.M., Dawson, A., Torchia, M., & Aldrich, H.E. (2024). Advancing diversity research in family business. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 100607. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877858524000020
Ginesti, G., Ossorio, M., & Dawson, A. (2023). Family businesses and debt maturity structure: Focusing on family involvement in governance to explain heterogeneity. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 14(2), 100563. https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/id/eprint/992673/1/Ginesti%20et%20al_JFBS_2023.pdf
Dawson, A., Paeglis, I., & Basu, N. (2022). Founder teams and firm value in young public firms: An analysis of the moderating effect of founders' ownership power and team size. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 30(2), 232-251. https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/id/eprint/990595/1/Dawson%20et%20al_CGIR_2022.pdf
Gimenez-Jimenez, D., Edelman, L. F., Dawson, A. & Calabro, A. (2022) Women entrepreneurs’ progress in the venturing process: The impact of risk aversion and culture. Small Business Economics, 58, 1091-1111. https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/id/eprint/991404/1/Gimenez-Jimenez%2C%20Edelman%2C%20Dawson%2C%20et%20al_SBE_2022.pdf
D’Allura, G. M., Bannò, M., Dawson, A., Torchia, M., & Cesaroni, F. M. (2022). Women in small and medium sized family firms: Theory and practice. Piccola Impresa / Small Business, DOI: https://doi.org/10.14596/pisb.3373. Women in Small and Medium Sized Family Firms: Theory and Practice | Piccola Impresa / Small Business. https://journals.uniurb.it/index.php/piccola/article/view/3373
Kandade, K., Samara, G., Parada, M. J., & Dawson, A. (2021). From family successors to successful business leaders: A qualitative study of how high-quality relationships develop in family businesses. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 12(2). https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/id/eprint/987999/1/From%20Family%20Successors%20to%20Successful%20Business%20Leaders.pdf
Dawson, A., Ginesti G. & Sciascia, S. (2020) Family-related antecedents of business legality: An empirical investigation among Italian family owned SMEs. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 11(1). https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/988000/1/Family-Related%20Antecedents%20of%20Business%20Legality_Final.pdf
Parada, M., Samara, G. Dawson, A. & Bonet, E. (2020) Prosperity over time and across generations: the role of values and virtues in family businesses. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 33(4): 639-654. https://www.emerald.com/jocm/article-abstract/33/4/639/247943/Prosperity-over-time-and-across-generations-the?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Chadwick, I.C. & Dawson, A. (2018) Women leaders and firm performance in family businesses: An examination of financial and nonfinancial outcomes. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 9(4): 238-249. https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/985032/1/Chadwick%20%26%20Dawson_JFBS_2018.pdf
Dawson, A. & Barredy, C. (2018) Private equity investment in family firms: The role of stake size and deal syndication. Venture Capital, 20(4): 355-376. https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/984430/1/Dawson_Barredy_VC_2018.pdf
Dawson, A., Paeglis, I. & Basu, N. (2017) Founder as steward or agent? A study of founder ownership and firm value. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 42(6): 886-910. https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/984433/1/Dawson_Paeglis_Basu_2018.pdf
Parada, M.J. & Dawson, A. (2017). Building family business identity through transgenerational narratives. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 30(3): 344-356. https://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/985005/1/Dawson%20%26%20Parada_JOCM_2017.pdf
Sharma, P., Debicki B.J., Dawson, A. & Kellermanns, F.W. (2017). Behavioural issues in family enterprises. International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development, 16(1/2): 1-12. https://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticletoc.php?jcode=ijmed&year=2017&vol=16&issue=1/2
Hjorth, D. & Dawson, A. (2016) The burden of history in the family business organization. Organization Studies, 37(8): 1089-1111. http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/980912/1/Hjorth%20%26%20Dawson%20_OrgSt_2016.pdf
Dawson, A., Sharma, P., Irving, P.G., Marcus, J., & Chirico, F. (2015) Predictors of later generation family members’ commitment to family enterprises. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 39(3): 545-569. http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/978746/1/Dawson_et_al_ETP_in_press.pdf
Dawson, A., Irving, P.G., Sharma, P., Chirico, F., & Marcus, J. (2014) Behavioral outcomes of next generation family members' commitment to their firm. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 23(4): 570-581. http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/978747/1/Dawson_et_al_EJWOP_2014.pdf
Dawson, A. & Mussolino, D. (2014) Exploring what makes family firms different: Discrete or overlapping constructs in the literature? Journal of Family Business Strategy, 5(2): 169-183. http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/978750/1/Dawson_and_Mussolino_JFBS_2014.pdf
Dawson, A. & Hjorth, D. (2012) Advancing family business research through narrative analysis, Family Business Review, 25(3): 339-355. http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/974637/4/Dawson_%26_Hjorth_FBR_2012.pdf
Dawson, A. (2012) Human capital in family businesses: Focusing on the individual level. Journal of Family Business Strategy, 3(1): 3-11. http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/973655/1/Dawson_JFBS_2012.pdf
Dawson, A. (2011) Private equity investment decisions in family firms: The role of human resources and agency costs. Journal of Business Venturing, 26(2): 189-199. http://spectrum.library.concordia.ca/977300/1/Dawson_JBV_2011.pdf
Book chapters (peer reviewed)
Dawson, A. (2024). Entries on ‘Succession’ and ‘Succession planning’. In Discua Cruz, A. F. & Howorth, C. (Eds.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Family Business (pp.418-421 & 422-424), Edward Elgar.
Cirillo, A., Dawson, A., Michiels, A., & Mussolino, D. (2020) Financing the growth of family businesses. In Calabrò, A. (Ed.), A Research Agenda for Family Business. A Way Ahead for the Field (pp. 215-230), Edward Elgar. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/345376301_Financing_the_growth_of_the_family_business_a_research_agenda
Dawson, A., Parada M. J., & Gimeno, A. (2020). Growth through innovation and internationalization: Exploring the role of family business identity through narrative analysis. In: Kammerlander, N. & De Massis, A. (Eds.), Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods for Family Business (pp. 248-269), Edward Elgar.
Dawson, A. (2019) Financial performance and corporate reputation in family firms: Is it about being good or being known?, in Colli, A., D’Allura, G.M., Faraci, R. & Goel, S. (Eds.), Family Firms and Institutional Contexts: Business Models, Innovation and Competitive Advantage (pp. 170-185), Edward Elgar Publishing.
Dawson, A. & Parada, M.J. (2019). Corporate governance in family businesses across generations: Exploring intergenerational issues, in Memili, E. & Dibrell, C. (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Heterogeneity Among Family Firms (pp. 115-139), Palgrave MacMillan, Basingstoke, UK.
Chadwick, I. & Dawson, A. (2018). Women in leadership and family firm performance, in D’Allura, G.M. & Faraci, R. (Eds.) Le Imprese Familiari. Governance, Internazionalizzazione e Innovazione (Family Businesses. Governance, Internationalization and Innovation) (pp. 99-105), Franco Angeli, Italy (in Italian).
Parada, M.J. & Dawson, A. (2017). Exploring institutional entrepreneurship in developing countries – Copreneurs in the tourism industry: A Bolivian case, in Ramirez-Pasillas, M., Brundin, E., & Markowska, M. (Eds.), Contextualizing Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies and Developing Economies (pp. 194-210), Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK.
Dawson, A. (2014). A look into the future: What is the next generation of family business scholars focusing on?, in Melin, L., Nordqvist, M., & Sharma, P. (Eds.) The SAGE Handbook of Family Business (pp. 629-642), Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.
Dawson, A. & Valentini, G. (2013). Acquisition and diversification behaviour in large family firms, in Smyrnios, K.X., Poutziouris, P.Z. & Goel, S. (Eds.) Handbook of Research on Family Business (pp. 719-733), 2nd Edition, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK.
Valentini, G. & Dawson, A. (2010) Beyond knowledge bases: Towards a better understanding of the effects of M&A on technological performance. In Finkelstein, S. & Cooper, C.L. (Eds.), Advances in Mergers and Acquisitions (pp. 177-197), Volume 9, Emerald Books, Bingley, UK. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236214772_Acquisition_and_diversification_behaviour_in_large_family_firms
Dawson, A. & Lassini, U. (2005) External environment and growth of family firms. In Corbetta, G. (Ed.), Capaci di Crescere (pp. 227-253), Egea, Milan (in Italian).
Selected recent conferences
Chadwick, I., & Dawson, A. (2026). Psychological safety in family firms: Emergence and impact in turbulent times. SPGC-FERC Global Family Business Summit, Nice, France.
Gorji, Y. & Dawson, A. (2026). Legacy over lead roles: A mixed-methods study of family capital, social identity, and survival of creative ventures. International Family Enterprise Research Academy (IFERA) conference, Naples, Italy.
Family business leader’s narratives to navigate in turbulent waters (2024), with C. Alvarado & M. J. Parada. European Institute for Advanced Studies in Management (EIASM) Workshop on Family Firm Management Research.
Advancing research on women in entrepreneurship (2024). PDW Workshop on Fostering entrepreneurial and resilient organizations through diversity and inclusion. Academy of Management (AoM) conference.
The trade-off between financial and nonfinancial wealth objectives: A story of a family business’s wealth and social value creation over four generations (2023). EIASM Workshop on Family Firm Management Research.
Strategic response to a grand challenge: Rethinking the business model after emerging from organized crime (2022). Strategic Management Society Conference.
Media and practitioner articles
How families shape successor motivation – and the firm’s long-term direction
https://familybusiness.org/content/how-families-shape-successor-motivation-and-the-firms-long-term
Why individual goals and motivation matter in family businesses: A historical perspective
Debunking misconceptions about women entrepreneurs
Five common misconceptions about women and entrepreneurship
https://theconversation.com/5-common-misconceptions-about-women-and-entrepreneurship-242457
Creating a gender-inclusive entrepreneurial landscape will help women fit in and thrive
JMSB researchers investigate how gender affects the corporate climb
JMSB's first international school receives award
Concordia Small Business Consulting Bureau collaborates with Montreal theatre
The entrepreneur's b-school
Concordia’s John Molson School of Business is becoming a knowledge hub for business owners and entrepreneurs
Why Quebec needs more entrepreneurs
http://www.concordia.ca/cunews/main/stories/2014/05/07/why-quebec-needsmoreentrepreneurs.html
Are you the profile owner?
Sign in to edit
Took 189 milliseconds