Silvia Stroe is assistant professor of entrepreneurship and innovation in the School of Management at the University of St. Gallen. Her research examines the microfoundations of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial finance, focusing on the role of affective, cognitive, and non-conscious processes in human behavior across entrepreneurial contexts, using psychophysiological methods to capture their real-time manifestations.
Emotional and Cognitive Processes in Entrepreneurship
Psychological Aspects of Entrepreneurial Finance
2017 Doctor of Science in Management and Entrepreneurship, Hanken School of Economics, Finland
2012 M.Sc. in Finance, Aalto University School of Business, Finland
2012 M.Sc. in Corporate Development, Universität zu Köln, Germany
2009 B.Sc. in Business Administration, Universität Mannheim, Germany (Erasmus Exchange semester at BI Norwegian Business School, Norway)
Since 2022: University of St. Gallen, School of Management, GCEI, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
2018-2022: Polytechnical University of Milan, School of Management, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship
2017-2018: Polytechnical University of Milan, School of Management, Postdoctoral Researcher in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Finance
2016: Visiting researcher at the Queensland University of Technology, Australian Center for Entrepreneurship Research
Master & Bachelor-level Courses
· Selling Technology solutions (Master ), University of St. Gallen, since 2026
· Selling: the Key to Successful Entrepreneurial Ventures (Bachelor), University of St. Gallen, since 2024
· Creativity and Entrepreneurship (Bachelor), University of St. Gallen, since 2023
· Consultancy Project: Social Start-up Creation (Master), University of St. Gallen, 2023-2024
· Entrepreneurial journey from idea to validation (Master), University of St. Gallen, since 2022
· Start-up creation in practice (Master), University of St. Gallen, 2022-2023
· Leadership and Innovation (MBA), Polytechnical University of Milan, 2018-2020
· High Tech Start-up: creating & scaling up (Master), Polytechnical University of Milan, 2018-2020
· Business economics (Master), Polytechnical University of Milan, 2020
· Entrepreneurship Economy and Policy (Master), Polytechnical University of Milan, 2018-2019
· Business and Industrial Economics (Master), Polytechnical University of Milan, 2018-2020 (teaching assistant)
· Essence of Entrepreneurship (Master), Hanken School of Economics, 2016-2017 (teaching assistant)
· Principles of Marketing (Bachelor), Freie Universität Berlin, 2012-2014 (teaching assistant)
· Organization and HRM (Bachelor), University of Mannheim, 2009 (student tutor)
Executive education
· Teaching the “pitching skills” module (two-day workshop) for SRG SSR’s Talent Program (Swiss public broadcasting company), Zürich, since 2025
· Teaching the “entrepreneurial pitching” module for the MBA “Communication” course, Executive School of University St. Gallen, since 2026
PhD-level Courses
· Guest lecturer for the eye-tracking lecture in Charlotta Siren’s PhD-level course “Workshop Series in Experimental Research Tools”, since 2024
2024-2028 Main applicant and project leader (with Prof. Dr. Charlotta Siren) for a Swiss National Foundation (SNSF) research project on Closing the Funding Gap for Disabled Entrepreneurs with the Help of Cognitive Science – 506.293CHF
2023-2024 Main applicant and project lead (with Prof. Dr. Charlotta Siren) for a Project Research Funding (Basic Research Fund of the University of St. Gallen) “Closing the funding gap for entrepreneurs with disabilities with the help of cognitive science” – 39.000CHF
2019-2021 Project manager of European Commission-funded project WITECH on increasing the presence of Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship, Polytechnical University of Milan –412.220€
2025 - Best Reviewer Award from the Journal of Business Venturing (FT50)
2016 Australian Centre for Entrepreneurship Research Exchange (ACERE) World Conference Award: Best quantitative paper for: The Role of Passion in Regulating Fear of Failure: A study of Early-Stage Entrepreneurs at Pitching Events
2015 International Council for Small Business Conference (ICSB), World Conference Doctoral Student Award: Best paper with a doctoral student as a main author for: Role overload, Growth of Obsessive Passion, and Moderating Effects of Goals
Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice
Journal of Business Venturing