I am a former corporate financier turned academic and company director. Having grown up in North America, I went on to work in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Latin America.
During my 11-year career as a banker focused on the financial services sector, I advised government shareholders and banks in 17 emerging market countries on mergers, restructurings, and privatizations. Subsequently, I was involved with social impact investing in Latin America.
As an academic, prior to my current position at Athabasca University, I have held university appointments in Mexico City (Tec de Monterrey - EGADE), and Toronto (York - Schulich). My research investigates the individual agency and entrepreneurial orientations required to navigate through turbulent contexts, and increasingly on the role of innovation finance. My research often takes a critical view of Global North hegemony.
I am presently the Chair of the Board of OECM and Member of the Board of Edmonton Unlimited (formerly Innovate Edmonton). I also sit on several volunteer boards.
Innovation finance ecosystems, Global North hegemony in the post-colonial contexts of the Global South, individual agency in difficult circumstances.
Educational credentials
PhD (2009) - University of Cambridge, Judge Business School
JD (1994) - Indiana University, Bloomington
MBA (1992) - University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management
AB (1988) - University of Chicago
Professional affiliations
ICD.D
Alvi, F. H. & Ulrich, K. 2023. Innovation finance ecosystems for entrepreneurial firms: A conceptual model and research propositions. Journal of Business Research, 156:1-9, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.113450.
Alvi, F. H. & Williamson, P. J. 2023. Responses to global financial standards in emerging markets: Regulatory neoliberalism and the Basel II Capital Accord. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 28(3):2635-2650.
Alvi, F. H. 2022. Social impact investing as a neoliberal construction: Ego and altruism in the post-colonial space of Oaxaca, Mexico. Critical Perspectives on International Business, 18(2):261-280.
*Alvi, F. H. 2021. International entrepreneurial orientation amidst post-colonial upheaval: Entrepreneurs during the Hong Kong Umbrella Revolution. Critical Perspectives on International Business, 17(4):572-598. *(2022 Emerald Literati Awards for Excellence, awarded ‘Outstanding Paper’)
Alvi, F.H., Prasad, A. & Segarra, P. 2019. The political embeddedness of entrepreneurship in extreme contexts: The case of the West Bank. Journal of Business Ethics. 157(1):279-292.
*Alvi, F.H. & Mendoza, J.A. 2017. Mexico City street vendors and the stickiness of institutional contexts: Implications for strategy in emerging markets. Critical Perspectives on International Business. 13(2):119-135. *(2018 Emerald Literati Awards for Excellence, awarded ‘Highly Commended Paper’)
Alvi, F.H. & Carsrud, A. 2017. Strategic entrepreneurial agency in emerging markets. Journal of Entrepreneurship. 26(1):77-101.
Prasad, A. & Qureshi, T. (my pseudonym, required by journal). 2017. Race and racism in elite post-colonial contexts: Reflections from investment banking. Work, Employment and Society. 31(2):352-362.
Alvi, F.H. 2012. Rethinking the institutional contexts of emerging markets through metaphor analysis. Management International Review. 52(4):519-539.
Knowledge mobilization:
Alvi F.H., Hurst, D., Thomas, J., and Cleveland-Innes, M. 2022 (May 1). Four lessons from online learning that should stick after the pandemic. The Conversation.
Alvi, F.H. 2022 (Jan 9). The U.S. failed in Afghanistan by trying to moralize with bullets and bombs. The Conversation.
Alvi, F.H. 2021 (Nov 28). How global business could be the unexpected COP26 solution to climate change. The Conversation.