Suzan Sim

BIOGRAPHY

Suzan Sim (she/her) is a PhD candidate whose research explores the intersection of entrepreneurship, national conflict, diversity, and corporate governance. “How do national conflicts affect entrepreneurship? How do immigrant scientists respond differently to adverse geopolitical events? How does governance impact startup success in turbulent times? These are the kinds of questions that drive my research,” Suzan explains.

Suzan first discovered her passion for understanding the intersection of politics and business while working at a US Senator’s office. After the Senator’s retirement, Suzan continued as an associate at his private consulting firm, working on international investment opportunities, particularly in Southeast Asia. “That experience taught me how deeply interconnected politics and business are, especially in the context of international relations,” she says.

Following her time in the consulting firm, Suzan worked at Boeing Defense Space and Security as an administrator overseeing offset projects for fighter jets. Serving as a liaison between US teams and Korean government officials, she learned the complexities of managing large-scale international business collaborations. “This role really sharpened my understanding of how defense and international relations influence corporate strategy,” she notes.

Suzan’s academic journey continued with an MBA from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, where her interest in research blossomed. “While working in industry was rewarding, I always found myself drawn to the deeper questions—why do firms and individuals act the way they do in response to geopolitical shifts? Research allows me to dig into these questions in a structured, empirical way,” she explains.

Once Suzan realized that research would allow her to ask the big questions that had intrigued her throughout her career, she decided that a PhD was the right path. “I chose IESE Business School because of its interdisciplinary academic environment and the opportunity to collaborate with scholars who are tackling real-world business challenges,” she says. She appreciates the flexibility to take ownership of her research while also learning from experts in fields like entrepreneurship, innovation, and corporate governance.

PUBLICATIONS

Journal Articles (peer-reviewed)

• Suzan Sim and A-Sung Hong, “National Conflict and High-Skilled Immigrants’ Workplace Efforts: Evidence from the US-China Conflict,” 2025, Organization Science. — Winner, 2024 SMS Annual Conference Best PhD Paper Prize

ONGOING RESEARCH

• Suzan Sim, “Public Firm Director’s Impact on Startup Funding”
  This study investigates the impact of public firm directors on the funding performance of startups.
• Suzan Sim, “US-China Trade War and Entrepreneurship in the US”
  This study examines the impact of the 2018 US-China trade war on the funding performance of US startups.