Cheng Gao

Assistant Professor at University of Michigan, Ross School of Business

Cheng Gao is an Assistant Professor of Strategy at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business, where he has been teaching since 2018. His academic focus includes innovation, entrepreneurship, and nonmarket strategy, particularly examining how firms navigate competitive landscapes in uncertain regulatory environments.1 2

Academic Background

Education:
- Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from Harvard Business School
- Bachelor of Arts (AB) in Economics from Harvard College, graduating with high honors.1 2

Research Interests

Gao's research investigates how firms compete in emerging industries and deal with regulatory challenges. His work has been published in notable journals such as:

Strategic Management Journal
Administrative Science Quarterly
Organization Science

He has received several prestigious awards for his research, including:

Academy of Management's Best Dissertation Award
Heizer Doctoral Dissertation Award from the Academy of Management's Entrepreneurship Division.1 2

Teaching Excellence

Gao is recognized for his teaching skills, having received multiple awards, including:

Neary WMBA Teaching Excellence Award (2022)
Neary BBA Teaching Excellence Award (2020)
A Certificate of Distinction in Teaching from Harvard University.1 2

In addition to his teaching role, he also serves on the board of directors for Barton Malow, a construction services company.1

Professional Experience

Before entering academia, Gao worked as a management consultant at Oliver Wyman and was a principal research assistant to a former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C..1 2

Overall, Cheng Gao is noted for his impactful contributions to both research and education within the field of business strategy.