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Research to Impact

Research to Impact

By: Samar Aad and Moustafa Haj Youssef
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There's a gap between what we know and what we do. Research to Impact lives in that gap. Thousands of studies are published every year. Almost none of them change anything.

Research to Impact is about the ones that do.

Every episode, we take one idea worth knowing and put it under the light: where it came from, what the evidence really says, and what it changes for the people doing the work. We talk to the researchers who found it and the practitioners who use it. We ask the question academics rarely get asked out loud. So what?

No jargon. No citation theatre. Just sharp conversations about knowledge that made it out of the journal and into the world.

If you've ever read an abstract and thought "this should matter more than it does" . This one's for you.

Co-hosted by Dr. Samar Aad and Dr. Moustafa Haj Youssef . New episodes first week of every month.

Samar Aad and Moustafa Haj Youssef 2026 Economics
Episodes
  • From ideas to impact: Entrepreneurship and Innovation

    From ideas to impact: Entrepreneurship and Innovation
    9 Oct 2026

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    Beyond Research | Professor Shaker Zahra: Rethinking Entrepreneurship Research — From Local Context to Global Impact

    What makes entrepreneurship research truly impactful? And how can researchers in the Middle East contribute original knowledge to global academic debates?

    In this episode of Beyond Research, Dr. Samar Aad and Dr. Moustafa Haj Youssef welcome Professor Shaker A. Zahra, a leading scholar in entrepreneurship, strategy, and international business at the University of Minnesota.

    Drawing on decades of research and academic experience, Professor Zahra reflects on how entrepreneurship scholarship has evolved, why context matters in developing new theories, and the opportunities for researchers working in emerging economies.

    The conversation also explores the challenges facing scholars in the MENA region, including limited access to data, research collaboration, and mentorship. Professor Zahra shares practical advice for early-career researchers and discusses how artificial intelligence could reshape entrepreneurship, academic research, and economic development.

    In this episode, we explore:

    • Why local contexts can generate globally relevant research.
    • The difference between replication and meaningful theoretical contribution.
    • Which entrepreneurship research topics deserve renewed attention.
    • How collaboration and mentorship can strengthen research in the MENA region.
    • The opportunities and challenges AI presents for researchers and entrepreneurs.

    Three key takeaways:

    1. Context matters. Research rooted in local realities can challenge existing assumptions and contribute to new theory.
    2. Study problems that matter. Meaningful research begins with important questions that have relevance beyond academic publications.
    3. Collaborate to create impact. Sharing knowledge, resources, and expertise can help researchers overcome constraints and produce stronger scholarship.

    About the guest: Professor Shaker A. Zahra is a distinguished scholar whose work has contributed extensively to entrepreneurship, strategic management, and international business.

    Hosted by: Dr. Samar Aad and Dr. Moustafa Haj Youssef.

    Beyond Research brings academic ideas into conversations that connect research with real-world challenges, opportunities, and impact.
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    1 hr and 1 min
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