José Lejarraga

José Lejarraga received his Ph.D. in Business Economics and Quantitative Methods from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. His research is driven by the idea that entrepreneurial action and innovation can be better grasped by understanding the intricacies of how people make decisions under uncertainty. He examines learning and decision-making processes of individuals, groups, and organizations and their effects on entrepreneurs’ behaviors, expectations, and outcomes.

Prior to joining IE University in 2011, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the economics department in Universitat Pompeu Fabra. His work has been published in scientific outlets such as Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Academy of Management Learning & Education, Memory and Cognition, Small Business Economics, or Small Business Management among others. He regularly presents his research in international conferences such as the Academy of Management Annual Meeting, or the EGOS Conference. His research has been distinguished with the Sumantra Ghoshal Research and Practice award by the Academy of Management.

Prof. Lejarraga has taught entrepreneurship across different levels, from bachelors to PhDs, where he brings insights from his research into the classroom. He conceives of teaching as taking students through a journey, with the goals of them acquiring new tools and transforming the way they think. He is also a firm believer in building up an inclusive environment in which students feel sufficiently comfortable to share their thoughts and ideas.