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.

Her paper on the impact of the US-China conflict on immigrant innovation is under revision after receiving a first-round R&R from Organizational Science, and it has won the 2024 SMS PhD Conference Paper Prize.

ONGOING RESEARCH

• Suzan Sim and A-Sung Hong, “US-China Relationship and Innovation,” 1st Round R&R, Organization Science (Resubmission planned in December 2024).
  Winner, 2024 SMS Annual Conference Best PhD Paper Prize
  The study examines how national conflicts, specifically the US-China conflict intensified by Trump’s inauguration in 2017, can unexpectedly enhance the innovation performance of immigrant R&D scientists in the US.
• 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.