Legacy & Research
Professor Eric Zhao bridges the critical divide between high-level management scholarship and the operational realities of global enterprises. Having held senior faculty positions at Oxford, Stanford and Indiana, his career has been dedicated to translating rigorous organizational theory into actionable strategic and leadership frameworks for the modern age.
His work leverages contemporary theories in strategy, organizations and entrepreneurship to address questions like how firms can become optimally distinct to gain sustainable competitive advantage, how AI fundamentally transforms the competitive landscape, and how institutional environments influence entrepreneurial actions and performance. Based in the UK, he serves as a senior advisor to boards across Europe, Asia, and the US.
In 2022, Professor Zhao won the "SMS Emerging Scholar Award," the prestigious career award conferred by the Strategic Management Society, which recognizes a portfolio of work that make fundamental contributions to the way we think about knowledge essential to achieving durable organizational success.
In 2019, Professor Zhao won the "AOM Emerging Scholar Award in Entrepreneurship," sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation and the Academy of Management. This award recognizes researchers with an outstanding record of scholarship and potential to make impactful, innovative contributions to entrepreneurship research.
Executive Advisory
High-touch mentorship for C-suite leaders focused on AI & digital transformation, competitive positioning on the market, and story-telling for success.
Student Testimonials
"Brilliant. Simply brilliant. Professor Zhao’s lecture was bold, practical, and thought-provoking. I feel inspired and challenged, but the content was very accessible and I’m immediately able to apply it to my work. This is exactly the type of outcome I wanted from this course."
Oxford Executive AI program student
"The best lecture/session on AI I have attended to-date. I was blown away by the content and the principles covered. It had already got me challenging and completely rethinking some of my core tenets around AI. This was the most revelatory session for me and Professor Zhao’s incredible personable and humble style was extremely engaging (apologies for the overuse of superlatives - but he is brilliant! )."
Oxford Diploma AI student
"I want more! He is fantastic. I attend a lot of global technology conferences and yet Professor Zhao's content was new and really challenged my thinking. His concepts are breakthroughs for the entire technology industry. He must be a sought-after resource...his advice is worth billions."
Oxford diploma ai student
"An amazing lecture and I wish we had more time not only with him but also on his content, which I thought was the most relevant and deserved more space in the syllabus. His lecture had detailed thinking and a structure that I expected from Oxford--he was inspiring! and it felt as if he really pushed the room in their thinking ."
Oxford Executive AI student
"His slides were well-crafted, and the post-session summaries he provided were an excellent touch that helped consolidate learning. He clearly has deep command over his subject matter, and more importantly, he knows how to transfer that knowledge effectively. He is the kind of educator who genuinely makes students sharper and more capable."
Oxford MBA student
"Probably the best teacher I have had. Insightful lectures (future of AI turning into business of trust), forward thinking analysis applicable to real world, and a lecture wrapping up key learnings of the course. Helpful in person when asking him questions, and his approachable demeanor does not make you feel like you are asking dumb questions or bothering him."
Oxford MBA student
Global Academic & Corporate Advisory
Let’s Collaborate
Professor Zhao is available for board-level consulting, executive speaking, and collaborative research initiatives across UK, Europe, and the World.
"Prof Eric Zhao is such a humble man. Although he is so senior he made sure that he covered the topics in such a way that all of us understand. He also invited all students to participate in class by creating a welcoming and inclusive class atmosphere. The menti quiz helped revise and clarify ALL concepts covered during the course."
Oxford MBA student
"He was great and very knowledgeable. I enjoyed his classes and his discussions about top of mind cutting edge AIdevelopment."
Oxford MBA student
"Eric delivers lectures in an effective and engaging manner. He is one of the strongest strategy lecturers in the department and he is presenting it in a way that is clear and accessible to students."
Oxford MBA student