Tim Lehmann

Tim Lehmann holds a Master degree from Witten/Herdecke University, Germany, where he graduated in economics and entrepreneurship. During his studies Tim gathered first-hand research and work experience in the field of entrepreneurship and economic development in 25 countries in collaboration with the private, public, and civil society sector.

An entrepreneur himself, Tim co-initiated and led an 8-month global study program in Africa, Asia, and Latin America investigating 40 social entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. Keen to inspire youth and share his learning, he disseminated this research including life video conferencing with more than 20 schools all over Germany, a website (www.expedition-welt.de), and the publication of a co-authored book.

Over the last three years Tim has been working at the intersection of entrepreneurial strategy and nonprofit organisations as a researcher, foundation manager, and nonprofit management consultant. As a research assistant at IESE Business School he conducted  research with social entrepreneurs in several states of India and moderated strategic discussions among executive staff. He has been a case author and reviewer with UNDP’s Growing Inclusive Market Initiative; worked with Bertelsmann Foundation on its civil society sector strategy; and as a management consultant for a Germany based nonprofit interims manager. Tim also has a banking background with Deutsche Bank.

In his dissertation Tim investigates how new market categories emerge and how institutional work and social movements leverage multiple matrixes of valuation. He focuses on market categories in which entrepreneurs, politicians, and other interest groups mobilize activity and resources for the inclusion of marginalized groups in developing countries. In a multi level model of organizational sensemaking, he draws on sensemaking as the micro-phenomenological basis and institutional theory as the macro-phenomenological basis of organizing. Language genres and rhetorical strategies - drawing on global debates on the role of governments, development aid, and markets -  link the content and sensemaking of local institutional contexts and broader field templates.

Tim is affliliated with the Research Institute for Organisational Psychology and the Institute of Management at St Gallen University.

 Supervisors: Chris Steyaert (OPSY-HSG), Claus Jacobs (IFB-HSG)