McDonough School of Business

Paul Almeida

Dean and William R Berkley Chair

Introducing Dean Paul Almeida

Paul Almeida is dean and William R. Berkley Chair at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where he champions a community of belonging and collaboration that focuses on business as a force to serve the common good. A member of the Georgetown community for more than 25 years, Almeida has served Georgetown McDonough in a number of leadership positions before assuming the deanship in 2017, including most recently as deputy dean for executive education and innovation. He also serves as professor of strategy and international business.

During his tenure as dean, Almeida has focused on leveraging the school’s greatest strengths — its location in the global capital city of Washington, D.C., its ability to create interdisciplinary programs in collaboration with Georgetown’s other renowned schools, and the university’s rich Jesuit tradition and values. 

He has overseen the growth of degree programs with the launch of the ambitious Dikran Izmirlian Program in Business and Global Affairs (a joint program with the School of Foreign Service and Georgetown’s first joint undergraduate degree), the M.S. in Management, an online M.S. in Business Analytics, the M.S. in Environment and Sustainability Management (a joint program with Georgetown’s Earth Commons and the Graduate School), the M.S. in Global Real Assets, and an Executive MBA in Dubai. The school also recently added an online option for the school’s Flex MBA program.

With the belief that business can partner across disciplines to solve the world’s most complex issues, he has created future-facing programs such as the AI, Analytics, and Future of Work Initiative, the Business of Sustainability Initiative, and the Baratta Center for Global Business, while also strengthening Georgetown Entrepreneurship and develping new programs at the intersection of business and health. Additionally, he appointed the school’s first Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and launched numerous diversity related initiatives.

Almeida’s research focuses on innovation, knowledge management, alliances, and informal collaborations across organizations and countries. He is interested in understanding how knowledge builds across people and organizations and how this affects performance. He has published in, and served on, the editorial boards of several leading journals. Almeida also previously was chair of the Technology and Innovation Management Division of the Academy of Management. He has received Georgetown’s Faculty Research Award and the Dean’s Service Award, as well as the Academy of Management’s (International Business) Outstanding Educator Award.

Almeida has taught students at all levels at Georgetown McDonough in the areas of strategy, international business, technology, and knowledge management. He has won the Joseph LeMoine Award for Graduate and Undergraduate Teaching Excellence, Best Professor Award for Executive Programs at Georgetown University, and is a seven-time winner of the Best Professor Award for Georgetown’s Executive MBA program.

As deputy dean, Almeida oversaw the McDonough School’s Innovation Initiative, which he continues to manage directly as dean. The initiative’s first priorities were to more deeply integrate Georgetown’s Catholic and Jesuit values into the school, expand technology-enhanced learning, leverage the school’s location in Washington, D.C., and increase organizational excellence.  

As senior associate dean, Almeida led the administrative and academic components of six executive education degree programs and more than 25 executive custom programs in as many as 30 countries, with over 1,000 students per year. The Financial Times continues to rank the school’s Executive MBA and Custom Executive Education programs among the best in the world.

Almeida has conducted executive education and corporate seminars with over 75 organizations, including Microsoft, Gucci, Rolls Royce, IBM, Bechtel, Nextel, Sprint, Samsung, ARAMARK, AREVA, ENI, the World Bank, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Public Radio, OPIC, the Department of Agriculture, FDIC, Federal Election Commission, Department of Commerce, and Social Security Administration.

Almeida received a Ph.D. in international business and strategy and an M.A. in applied economics and managerial science from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Poona, India. He and his wife also are the parents of two Georgetown graduates.

Contact the Dean

Invitations for the Dean’s Participation in Events

The Office of the Dean attempts to accommodate all invitations to Dean Paul Almeida that support the mission of the school and fit within the dean’s calendar. Please submit the form below to request the dean’s participation, and then call the Dean’s Office at (202) 687-3883 to discuss your event.

Dean’s Office Invitation Request Form

Contact Information

Dean Paul Almeida
Office of the Dean
Rafik B. Hariri Building, Suite 110
37th and O Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20057
(202) 687-3883
msbdean@georgetown.edu

Chief of Staff:
Sarah Tillotson

Straight from the Dean

Learn about Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business directly from the dean as he shares his vision for the school and the future of business education.

Dean Paul Almeida

Standing in Solidarity with our Students of Asian Descent (March 18, 2021)

Dear McDonough Community,

It is with sadness that I reflect on the recent shooting of eight individuals in Atlanta, including six of Asian descent. This is deeply upsetting to me and our leadership. Incidents like this make it all the more important that we do the hard work to ensure McDonough is a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels welcome and has a deep sense of belonging. At McDonough, we pride ourselves in celebrating the many backgrounds and experiences of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff, as well as expanding all of our perspectives to be more inclusive of different viewpoints and experiences. Please continue to support and care for one another during this difficult time.

Continue Reading Dean Almeida’s Full Letter

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your supervisor. You also can contact the Faculty & Staff Assistance Program (new window) (FSAP). Additional university resources are available. If you have any suggestions on how our community can continue to build a welcoming environment for everyone in our community, please contact Patricia Grant, co-chair of our Standing Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 

We value our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community at Georgetown. We will continue to work across our student, faculty, and staff DEI taskforces to ensure our community does its best to live up to our Jesuit values while also finding ways to impact the world around us. 

Sincerely,

Paul Almeida
Dean and William R. Berkley Chair
Professor of Strategy

Weekday Conversations with President DeGioia (October 29, 2020)

Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia recently hosted Dean Almeida for his weekday conversations series, where they discussed the learning opportunities at McDonough, as well as the school’s global perspective and focus on entrepreneurship. They also talked about the Dikran Izmirlian Program in Business and Global Affairs, a new joint program between the McDonough and the School of Foreign Service, and the business school’s work to support the Pivot Program for returning citizens.


Board of Trade COVID-19 Briefing: Higher Ed’s Plans for Fall (July 28, 2020)

Dean Almeida recently joined other higher education leaders from the region to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting colleges and universities and their plans for the fall. The event was hosted by the Greater Washington Board of Trade.


Time for Change (June 2020) 

Dear Members of our Georgetown McDonough Community,

This is a troubling time in our country and in our hearts. Like many of you, in recent weeks, I have seen images and heard names I will never forget: George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor. These names only add to a long list of others — and each of them was someone’s child, or someone’s parent, someone’s friend.

Continue Reading Dean Almeida’s Full Letter

Our nation and the world continue to be plagued by racial violence and structural inequities. Many of us are feeling unsettled, afraid, anxious, and disheartened. For too long, we have waited for change. Now — when the world most needs us — is the time for our community to take action. We have a duty to make a difference. If not us, then who? 

We must be Georgetown women and men for all others. Our Jesuit values call upon us to be caring leaders who will not tolerate a society where we worry that we may lose our friends, coworkers, neighbors, or loved ones because of hate and fear. 

Let’s understand and appreciate each other’s opinions and beliefs. In particular, listen to — and value — the concerns and fears of our friends and colleagues who are Black or from other marginalized groups. Let’s be mindful of racial inequalities and our own implicit biases in our interactions with each other, in whose voices we invite in, and in the decisions we make, acknowledging that many of the racial challenges we face may be structural. 

Our McDonough colleague, Professor Ella Washington, just co-authored an article for the Harvard Business Review on what leaders should do to help their organizations through this painful time and address the challenge of racial injustice. The authors so eloquently state: “Racism isn’t just Black people’s problem; it’s everyone’s problem…” Let’s follow their advice and take deliberate and positive steps to enact meaningful change. 

In recent years, McDonough has developed programs to directly address inequality, through initiatives such as the Pivot Program for formerly incarcerated individuals; Georgetown Reach to prepare disadvantaged D.C. youth for college; Smart Start to equip a diverse pool of students for academic, personal, and professional success; and our MBA opening term, which now includes an exploration of the dynamics of diversity and inclusion, implicit biases, conflict and civility, and giving and receiving feedback.  

We must do more. In the coming weeks, I will be discussing with our community new ways we can proactively make a difference in a meaningful and sustained way. I encourage you to share your thoughts with me at MSBDean@georgetown.edu. In addition, if you would like to speak with a counselor, Georgetown’s offices of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Office of Campus Ministry, and the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access (CMEA) continue to be available virtually during the pandemic.

So, in the next days and weeks let us show how we care for one another and take steps to change our organizations and our communities as we aspire to build a fair and just society of which we can all be proud. 

Thank you.

Regards,

Paul Almeida
Dean and William R. Berkley Chair
Professor of Strategy

Georgetown McDonough Celebrates 10 Years in the Rafik B. Hariri Building (October 2019)

The Rafik B. Hariri Building — home of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business — opened 10 years ago in fall 2009. The $82.5 million building was funded entirely through philanthropy and houses all of the school’s programs, centers, institutes, and initiatives. It is named in memory of the late Lebanese politician and philanthropist Rafik B. Hariri.


Dean Almeida’s Vision for Georgetown McDonough (September 28, 2018)

Imagine a world where our biggest private and public institutions are led by Georgetown McDonough graduates who have the tools and capabilities, and who are led by the Jesuit mission to serve the common good. That’s the world Dean Almeida wants to live in, and in this video he describes his vision to get the McDonough School of Business to that place by being smart, innovative, and distinctive and by leveraging the school’s strengths on campus and in Washington, D.C.


State of the School Address 2018 (September 12, 2018)

Dean Almeida discusses how being smart, innovative, and distinctive will enable Georgetown McDonough to continue its path toward “True North” — serving our students and scholarship — at the annual State of the School Address.


Straight from the Dean – Fall 2017 (December 13, 2017)

Dean Paul Almeida takes a moment to reflect on Georgetown McDonough’s 60-year history and share his vision for our school’s future.


State of the School Address 2017 (September 7, 2017)

Dean Almeida shares his vision for the McDonough School of Business at its annual State of the School Address.


Introducing Dean Almeida (August 1, 2017)

Paul Almeida is Dean and William R. Berkley Chair at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. A member of the Georgetown community for more than two decades, Almeida has served Georgetown McDonough in a number of positions, including most recently as deputy dean for executive education and innovation and, prior to that, as senior associate dean for executive education. He also serves as professor of strategy and international business.

Dean Almeida’s Research

Scholarly Contribution and Impact (as of July 2022)

Google Scholar – over 13,000 citations

Papers in Academic Journals and Scholarly Books

“Does separation hurt? The impact of premature termination of R&D alliances on knowledge
acquisition and innovation” Research Policy 49(6), July 2020, (with J. Hohberger and H. Kruger)

The Role of Relative Performance in Inter-Firm Mobility of Inventors,” Research Policy 46 (6) 2017: 1162-1174 (with F. DiLorenzo)

“The Influence of Ethnic Community Knowledge on Indian Inventor Innovativeness” Organization Science 26(1), 2015: 198–217 (with A. Phene and S. Li)

“The Direction of Firm Innovation: The Contrasting Roles of Strategic Alliances and IndividualScientific Collaborations” Research Policy 44 (8) 2015: 1473-1487 (with J. Hohberger)

“When Do Acquisitions Facilitate Technological Exploration and Exploitation?” Journal of Management 38 (3) 2012:753-783 (with A. Phene &  S. Tallman)

“A Behavioral Perspective on Inventors’ Mobility: The Case of Pharmaceutical Industry” Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings August 2012 (with F. DiLorenzo)

“Managing Knowledge Within and Outside the MNC: A Managerial Perspective” In M. Andersson et. al. (eds.), Innovation and Growth: From R&D Strategies of Innovating Firms to Economy-wide Technological Change. Oxford University Press, 2012 (with A. Phene)

“Individual Scientific Collaborations and Firm-Level Innovation” Industrial and Corporate Change 20 (6) 2011: 1571-1599 (with J. Hoheberger & P. Parada)

“Informal Knowledge and Innovation” In M. Easterby-Smith and M. Lyles (eds.) Handbook of Organizational Learning and Knowledge. John Wiley and Sons, 2011 (with J. Hoheberger & P. Parada)

“Innovation in Multinational Subsidiaries:  The Role of Knowledge Assimilation and Subsidiary Capabilities” Journal of International Business Studies, 39 (5) 2008: 901-919 (with A. Phene)

“Individual Collaborations, Strategic Alliances and Innovation: Insights from the Biotechnology Industry”  In Scott Shane (ed.), Handbook of  Technology and Innovation Management, John Wiley and Sons, 2008 (with J. Hoheberger & P. Parada)

“Subsidiaries and Knowledge Creation: Influence of the MNC and Host Country on Innovation” Strategic Management Journal, 25(8-9)  2004: 847-864 (with A. Phene)

“Conocimiento y Competitividad de las Multinacionales”(Knowledge and Competitiveness in the MNC) Estudios Empresariales  114 (1), 2004

“Overcoming Local Search Through Alliances and Mobility” Management Science 49 (6) 2003: 751-766 (with L. Rosenkopf)

“Learning-by-Hiring: When is Mobility More Likely to Facilitate Inter-Firm Knowledge Transfer?” Management Science,  49(4), 2003: 351 – 365 (with J. Song and G. Wu)

“How Do Firms Evolve?: The Patterns of Technological Evolution of Semiconductor Subsidiaries” International Business Review 12 (3), 2003: 349-367 (with A. Phene)

“Innovation and Knowledge Management: Scanning, Sourcing and Integration” In M. Easterby-Smith and M. Lyles (eds.) The Blackwell Handbook of Organizational Learning and Knowledge Management Blackwell, 2003 (with R. Grant and A. Phene)

“Startup Size and the Mechanisms of External Learning: Increasing Opportunity and Decreasing  Ability?” Research Policy 32 (2), 2003: 301-315. (with G. Dokko & L. Rosenkopf)

“Are Firms Superior to Alliances and Markets? An Empirical Test of Cross-Border Knowledge Building” Organization Science, 13(2) 2002:147 – 161 (with J. Song & R. Grant)

“Knowledge Acquisition Through Alliances: Opportunities and Challenges” The Blackwell Handbook of Cross-Cultural Management, 2002: 66-77, Blackwell (with R. Grant and A. Phene)

“Mobility of Engineers and Cross-Border Knowledge Building: The Technological Catching-up Case of Korean and Taiwanese Semiconductor Firms” in H. Chesbrough and R. Burgelman (eds.) Research in Technology and Innovation Management, 7, 2001:57-84 (with J. Song and G. Wu)

“Who’s Building on Whom? Overcoming Localization Biases Through Alliances and Mobility” Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings, Washington DC, August 2001 (with L. Rosenkopf)

“Knowledge Transfer Through Alliances: The Role of Culture” In Karen Newman and Marty Gannon (eds.) Handbook of Cross-Cultural Management 2000 Blackwell Press.

“Knowledge and the Multinational Enterprise,” In C. Millar, R.Grant, and C. Choi (eds.) International Business: Emerging Issues and Emerging Markets 2000 Macmillan, London (with R. Grant and J. Song)

“Localization of Knowledge and the Mobility of  Engineers in Regional Networks” Management Science, 45 (7) 1999: 905-917 (with B. Kogut)

“Semiconductor Start-ups and the Exploration of New Technological Territory” In Zoltan Acs (ed.)  Are Small Firms Important? 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers Netherlands.

“The Role of the International Corporations in Cross Border Knowledge Transfer” In M. Hitt and J. Ricarrd’s (eds.) Managing Strategically in an Interconnected World 1999 John Wiley and Sons, Sussex, England.

“The Exploration of Technological Diversity and Geographic Localization in Innovation: Start-up Firms in the Semiconductor Industry” Small Business Economics, 9(1) 1997:21-31 (with B. Kogut)

Reprinted in Bernard Yeung and Joanne Oxley (eds.), Structural Change, Industrial Location and Competitiveness, Kluwer Academic Publishing, The Netherlands.

Reprinted in Zoltan Acs (ed.), Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Global Economy, University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI.

“Knowledge Sourcing by Foreign Multinationals: Patent Citation Analysis in the U.S. Semiconductor Industry” Strategic Management Journal, 17(2) 1996:155-165

Reprinted in John Cantwell (ed.), Foreign Direct Investment and Technological Change, Globalization of the World Economy Series (editor Mark Casson), Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK.

“Learning and Contributing: Patent Citation Analysis of Foreign Multinationals in the U.S. Semiconductor Industry” Academy of Management Best Paper Proceedings 1996: 363-376

Papers Under Review

“Aspirations, Performance, and Changes in Partnering Behavior: Evidence from the Pharmaceutical Industry 1990 – 2006” R&R Research Policy (with F. Di Lorenzo)

“Geographic Diversity of Innovation Inputs and Innovation Quality” R&R Global Strategy Journal (with Jan Hohberger)

Dean Almeida in the News

Dean in the News

All Dean Almeida Stories
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In the News item

Georgetown McDonough’s Dean: 4 Ambitious Goals For The Next 5 Years

“Everyone talks about purpose now and everyone talks about business as a force for good,” Almeida says. “But that’s a part of our DNA, the idea of values and the idea of business serving the common good. I truly believe if we do business right, it can be the best solution to the world’s problems — not just economic problems, but social problems.

August 16, 2022

Washington-Business-Journal-logo

In the News item

It’s resolution time. We asked D.C.-area business leaders what they’re planning for 2022.

By removing barriers to success in the college search, we aim to increase the number of diverse applicants and admitted students at top-tier colleges and universities, which in turn, creates a more dynamic and vibrant cohort of business professionals.

January 7, 2022

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In the News item

‘A Crucial Role To Play’: Top B-School Deans Share 2022 Resolutions

Paul Almeida, dean of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, says 2021 proved at least one thing: predictions for 2022 must be predicated on the notion that change is the only sure thing.

December 28, 2021