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Anna-Katharina Lenz

Lance & Diane White Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship


Anna-Katharina Lenz

Contact Information

Office Hours

  • Mon 3:00-5:00pm

Links

* Accessible version of PDF available upon request.

Profile

Academic Background

  • Prior to joining Miami University, I was Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the School of Management of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. I earned my Ph.D. from Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV-EBAPE), where I also completed a Post-Doc in 2019. Prior to working in Brazil, I did my Master of Science in International Business and Politics at Copenhagen Business School. My undergrad studies were in Philosophy and Economics at the University of Bayreuth, Germany, with exchange terms at the National University of Singapore and Weber State University.
  • I am fluent in German, English, and Portuguese.

Academic & Professional Experience

  • I am the White Family Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. My academic and professional journey spans Germany, Brazil, Australia, and now the U.S., blending a global perspective with a passion for embodied practices. Before joining Miami University, I was a Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at RMIT University in Melbourne. Together with Prof. Renata Brito, I co-founded the Center of Microentrepreneurship at PUC/Rio de Janeiro.
  • My research focuses on entrepreneurship, poverty, and inequality, with a particular interest in facilitating entrepreneurship at the Base-of-the-Pyramid and building thriving communities. I explore the intersection of behavioral theory and entrepreneurship to promote sustainable growth and entrepreneurial development. My work bridges theory and practice, including collaborations with Sebrae, Brazil’s largest small business support organization. I have led and managed large-scale Randomized Field Experiments to enhance formalization, managerial capacity, and tax compliance among entrepreneurs in Brazil.
  • As a Certified Focusing Professional, I integrate embodied practices into my teaching, research, and consulting to address global challenges and promote human flourishing. My approach is informed by years of experience in development projects and training in Inner-Relationship Focusing, Somatic Practices and Polyvagal Theory. I explore how embodiment can unlock human potential, foster resilience and creativity , and support sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems.
  • I have also worked as a consultant with extensive experience in planning, implementing, and evaluating development projects in Brazil, including collaborations with UNDP and the Ministry of Economics to define policy guidelines for supporting women entrepreneurs. Beyond my academic and consulting roles, I actively support social projects and NGOs in Brazil, Australia, and the US, driven by a commitment to creating meaningful impact at the intersection of entrepreneurship and human development.

Recent Publications

  • Lenz, A. K., Muskat, B., & de Brito, R. P. (2025). Peer support and value creation among women entrepreneurs. Small Business Economics, 1-38.
  • Arenius, P., & Lenz, A. K. (2024). Beyond the paradigm of literacy–Developing a research agenda in entrepreneurship. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 21.
  • Zucco, C., Lenz, A. K., Goldszmidt, R., & Valdivia, M. (2023). Do political preferences affect policy learning and uptake? Evidence from a field experiment with informal entrepreneurs. The Journal of Politics, 85(3), 1003-1016
  • Brito, R. P. D., Lenz, A. K., & Pacheco, M. G. M. (2022). Resilience building among small businesses in low-income neighborhoods. Journal of Small Business Management, 1-36.
  • Lenz, A. K., & Brito, R. (2022). Microentrepreneurship in Brazil: Mind the Gap. In Brazilian Entrepreneurship (pp. 11-25). Springer International.
  • Goldszmidt, R., Behr, P., Zucco, C., Lenz, A. K., Gonzalez, L., & Valdivia, M. (2022). Microcredit impacts: Evidence from a large-scale observational study in Brazil. The European Journal of Development Research, 34(4), 1940-1966.
  • Lenz, A. K., Sutter, C., Goldszmidt, R., & Zucco, C. (2021). Venture distress and problemistic search among entrepreneurs in Brazilian favelas. Journal of Business Venturing, 36(6), 106162.
  • Bruton, G., Sutter, C., & Lenz, A. K. (2021). Economic inequality - Is entrepreneurship the cause or the solution? A review and research agenda for emerging economies. Journal of Business Venturing, 36(3), 106095.
  • Zucco, C., Lenz, A. K., Goldszmidt, R., & Valdivia, M. (2020). Face-to-face vs. virtual assistance to entrepreneurs: Evidence from a field experiment in Brazil. Economics Letters, 188, 108922.
  • Barki, E., de Campos, J. G. F., Lenz, A. K., Kimmitt, J., Stephan, U., & Naigeborin, V. (2020). Support for social entrepreneurs from disadvantaged areas navigating crisis: Insights from Brazil. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 14, e00205.

Honors & Awards

  • RMIT CoBL 2020 Learning & Teaching Award

Biography

Courses

  • FALL 2023