Dr Rebecca Yu Li
Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Management
- Strategy and Entrepreneurship
- Brunel Business School
- College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences
Summary
Rebecca Li is a Senior Lecturer in Strategy and Management at Brunel Business School, bringing extensive experience in academic leadership and impactful research. Before joining Brunel, she was a Lecturer in Marketing at the University of Essex, where she also served as Research Seminar Coordinator, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and enhancing the school’s academic reputation.
Research Focus
Rebecca’s research is structured around three interrelated streams, all contributing to the advancement of sustainable and innovative business practices:
Sustainable Innovation Strategies
- Exploring how organizations develop and implement sustainable innovation to address environmental and societal challenges.
- Examining the role of regulatory policies in fostering or hindering sustainable innovation practices.
Technology, Ethics, and Regulation
- Investigating the adoption and ethical implications of emerging technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI).
- Analyzing the regulatory frameworks shaping the integration of data analytics and AI in business and society.
Cross-Border Knowledge Transfer and Collaboration
- Studying the dynamics of knowledge-sharing networks across borders, with a focus on innovation in resource-constrained environments.
- Assessing how global collaborations influence the development of disruptive technologies and innovative ecosystems.
Her work, published in leading journals such as Journal of Product Innovation Management, Technovation, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of International Marketing, journal of Business Research, provides actionable insights into navigating the complexities of innovation in an increasingly interconnected and regulated world.
Director of Rankings
As Director of Rankings, Rebecca drives the strategic enhancement of Brunel Business School’s global and national ranking performance. She leads data-driven initiatives to align ranking efforts with the institution’s broader goals, ensuring the school’s strengths are effectively represented in submissions and fostering its reputation as a leader in business education.
Editorial Board Membership
Rebecca is a member of the editorial board for International Marketing Review.
Collaborations
Rebecca invites prospective PhD students and industry collaborators with interests in sustainable innovation, regulatory impacts, and interdisciplinary approaches to innovation strategy and social economy transitions. Those with aligned research goals are encouraged to connect with a research proposal.
Qualifications
Higher Education Academy D2 (Fellowship)
PhD. in Marketing,, Durham University 2018
MSc. Marketing and Management, Loughborough University 2013
BSc. Statistics Economics and Finance, University College London 2012
Newest selected publications
Li, RY., Sousa, CMP., He, X. and Hu, Y. (2022) 'Spinning straw into gold: Innovation recycling, innovation sourcing modes, and innovation ability in Sub-Saharan Africa'. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 39 (5). pp. 583 - 603. ISSN: 0737-6782 Open Access Link
Li, W., Liu, Z., Xia, S., Yan, J., Xiong, Y., Sakka, G. and et al. (2022) 'How can emerging-market SMEs domestically benefit from their performance in developed countries? Empirical evidence from China'. Journal of Business Research, 142. pp. 200 - 210. ISSN: 0148-2963 Open Access Link
Li, RY., Yan, KJ., Yao, N., Tian, K., Xia, S., Yang, X-H. and et al. (2021) 'Abandoning innovation projects, filing patent applications and receiving foreign direct investment in R&D'. Technovation, 114. pp. 1 - 12. ISSN: 0166-4972 Open Access Link
Yang, X., Yan, J., Tian, K., Yu, Z., Li, RY. and Xia, S. (2021) 'Centralization or decentralization? the impact of different distributions of authority on China's environmental regulation'. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 173. pp. 1 - 10. ISSN: 0040-1625 Open Access Link
Sousa, CMP., Li, RY. and He, X. (2020) 'The Impact of Exploitation and Exploration on Export Sales Growth: The Moderating Role of Domestic and International Collaborations'. Journal of International Marketing, 28 (4). pp. 1 - 20. ISSN: 1069-031X Open Access Link