Info
Assistant Professor of Management
R. Isil Yavuz
R. Işıl Yavuz is an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at Braynt University. She
teaches entrepreneurship, international business and international entrepreneurship at undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Yavuz’s research investigates the interactive role of cognition and context in the early internationalization, innovation and performance of high technology new ventures. Her work has so far been published in Journal of Business of Venturing and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Small Business Economics, Journal of Small Business Management among others. She has also written a book, titled “Outsider Entrepreneurs.” She received her PhD in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Yavuz was awarded a Kaufmann Dissertation Fellowship Award and Kauffman Firm Survey Best Dissertation Award for her doctoral dissertation. She holds a master’s degree in Social Psychology from Middle East Technical University (METU). Her master’s thesis received the Best M.S. Thesis of the Year Award from the Graduate School of Social Sciences at the Middle East Technical University. Dr. Yavuz received her bachelor’s degree (as valedictorian) from METU in Business Administration.
teaches entrepreneurship, international business and international entrepreneurship at undergraduate and graduate levels. Dr. Yavuz’s research investigates the interactive role of cognition and context in the early internationalization, innovation and performance of high technology new ventures. Her work has so far been published in Journal of Business of Venturing and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Small Business Economics, Journal of Small Business Management among others. She has also written a book, titled “Outsider Entrepreneurs.” She received her PhD in Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Yavuz was awarded a Kaufmann Dissertation Fellowship Award and Kauffman Firm Survey Best Dissertation Award for her doctoral dissertation. She holds a master’s degree in Social Psychology from Middle East Technical University (METU). Her master’s thesis received the Best M.S. Thesis of the Year Award from the Graduate School of Social Sciences at the Middle East Technical University. Dr. Yavuz received her bachelor’s degree (as valedictorian) from METU in Business Administration.
Degrees Awarded
Ph D, University of Minnesota
MS, Middle East Technical University
BS, Middle East Technical University
Ph D, University of Minnesota
MS, Middle East Technical University
BS, Middle East Technical University
Selected Publications
Chadwick, H.,Yavuz, R.,Jiang, C.,Rustambekov, E., The Impact of Supervisor Gender on Employee Creativity and the Mediating Role of Interaction Frequency, Journal of Comparative International Management.
Yavuz, R.,Dutta, D.,, .,Soytas, M., Extending Behavioral Theory of the Firm to New Ventures: Dispositional Optimism as a Moderating Influence on New Product Introductions in High-tech Ventures, Journal of Business Venturing Insights.
Yavuz, R.,Kumar, S.,Zbib, L.,Nigro, P., Founder Gender and Firm Exit Routes: The Mediating Roles of Firm Size and VC Financing, Small Business Economics, 2025.
Yavuz, R.,Iacoviello, A., The effect of founder CEOs’ technical and business education on the amount of entrepreneurial financing in the global fintech industry, METU Studies in Development, 2023.
Yavuz, R., A Theoretical Model on the Role of Aspirations in the Internationalization of Born Global Companies, Academy of International Business, 2022.
Yavuz, R., Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies: Barriers to Entrepreneurship in the Muslim World, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2022.
Yavuz, R., A Theoretical Model on the Role of Aspirations in the Internationalization of Born Global Companies, Hacettepe University Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 2022.
Yavuz, R.,Bahadir, B., "Remittances, Ethnic Diversity, and Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries, Small Business Economics, 2022.
Yavuz, R., Founders’ Education, Social Capital, and Their Interplay in the Intensity of New Venture Internationalization, Journal of Small Business Management, 2021.
Yavuz, R.,Dutta, D.,Soytas, M., Optimistic Entrepreneurs and New Product Introductions in High-tech New Ventures: An Examination Based on the Behavioral Theory of the Firm, Best Paper Proceedings of the Seventy-eighth Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, 2018.
Dutta, D.,Yavuz, R., Survived but Cannot Prosper! Examining the Impact of Gender Inequality on Success of Women-owned Entrepreneurial Ventures through a Liberal Feminist Lens, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
Yavuz, R.,Sapienza, H., Resource Mobility, Early Internationalization and Performance, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016.
Yavuz, R., The Outsider Entrepreneurs, LFB Scholarly Publishing, 2013.
De Clercq, D.,Sapienza, H.,Yavuz, R.,Zhou, L., Learning and Knowledge in Early Internationalization Research: Past Accomplishments and Future Directions, Journal of Business Venturing, 2012.
Yavuz, R.,Sapienza, H.,Zaheer, S., Founders’ Immigrant Status, Early Internationalization and Performance in High Technology Industries , Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, 2012.
Zahra, S.,Yavuz, R., Competing at the Intersection: Entrepreneurialism, Agility and Organizational Resilience, Sage Publication, 2008.
Zahra, S.,Yavuz, R.,Ucbasaran, D., How Much Do You Trust Me? The Dark Side of Relational Trust in New Business Creation in Established Companies, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 2006.
Chadwick, H.,Yavuz, R.,Jiang, C.,Rustambekov, E., The Impact of Supervisor Gender on Employee Creativity and the Mediating Role of Interaction Frequency, Journal of Comparative International Management.
Yavuz, R.,Dutta, D.,, .,Soytas, M., Extending Behavioral Theory of the Firm to New Ventures: Dispositional Optimism as a Moderating Influence on New Product Introductions in High-tech Ventures, Journal of Business Venturing Insights.
Yavuz, R.,Kumar, S.,Zbib, L.,Nigro, P., Founder Gender and Firm Exit Routes: The Mediating Roles of Firm Size and VC Financing, Small Business Economics, 2025.
Yavuz, R.,Iacoviello, A., The effect of founder CEOs’ technical and business education on the amount of entrepreneurial financing in the global fintech industry, METU Studies in Development, 2023.
Yavuz, R., A Theoretical Model on the Role of Aspirations in the Internationalization of Born Global Companies, Academy of International Business, 2022.
Yavuz, R., Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies: Barriers to Entrepreneurship in the Muslim World, International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2022.
Yavuz, R., A Theoretical Model on the Role of Aspirations in the Internationalization of Born Global Companies, Hacettepe University Journal of Economics and Administrative Sciences, 2022.
Yavuz, R.,Bahadir, B., "Remittances, Ethnic Diversity, and Entrepreneurship in Developing Countries, Small Business Economics, 2022.
Yavuz, R., Founders’ Education, Social Capital, and Their Interplay in the Intensity of New Venture Internationalization, Journal of Small Business Management, 2021.
Yavuz, R.,Dutta, D.,Soytas, M., Optimistic Entrepreneurs and New Product Introductions in High-tech New Ventures: An Examination Based on the Behavioral Theory of the Firm, Best Paper Proceedings of the Seventy-eighth Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, 2018.
Dutta, D.,Yavuz, R., Survived but Cannot Prosper! Examining the Impact of Gender Inequality on Success of Women-owned Entrepreneurial Ventures through a Liberal Feminist Lens, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017.
Yavuz, R.,Sapienza, H., Resource Mobility, Early Internationalization and Performance, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016.
Yavuz, R., The Outsider Entrepreneurs, LFB Scholarly Publishing, 2013.
De Clercq, D.,Sapienza, H.,Yavuz, R.,Zhou, L., Learning and Knowledge in Early Internationalization Research: Past Accomplishments and Future Directions, Journal of Business Venturing, 2012.
Yavuz, R.,Sapienza, H.,Zaheer, S., Founders’ Immigrant Status, Early Internationalization and Performance in High Technology Industries , Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, 2012.
Zahra, S.,Yavuz, R., Competing at the Intersection: Entrepreneurialism, Agility and Organizational Resilience, Sage Publication, 2008.
Zahra, S.,Yavuz, R.,Ucbasaran, D., How Much Do You Trust Me? The Dark Side of Relational Trust in New Business Creation in Established Companies, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 2006.
Awards and Honors
Faculty Merit Award, 2025
Faculty Parity Award, 2024
Faculty Merit Award, 2022
College of Business Outstanding Service Award, 2022
Best Paper Prize Nominee, Strategic Management Society (SMS) Conference, 2020
Best Paper Proceedings, Academy of Management (AOM) Conference , 2018
Best Paper Proceedings, Babson Entrepreneurship Research (BERC) Conference , 2012
Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS) Best Dissertation Award , USA , 2012
Doris McNamara's Women Dissertation Fellowship Award, U of Minnesota, USA , 2010
Kauffman Foundation Dissertation Fellowship Award, USA , 2010
M.S., Best Master Thesis of the Year Award in Social Sciences, METU, Turkey, 2005
B.S., Valedictorian with the CGPA of 4.0/4.0, METU, Turkey, 2002
Faculty Merit Award, 2025
Faculty Parity Award, 2024
Faculty Merit Award, 2022
College of Business Outstanding Service Award, 2022
Best Paper Prize Nominee, Strategic Management Society (SMS) Conference, 2020
Best Paper Proceedings, Academy of Management (AOM) Conference , 2018
Best Paper Proceedings, Babson Entrepreneurship Research (BERC) Conference , 2012
Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS) Best Dissertation Award , USA , 2012
Doris McNamara's Women Dissertation Fellowship Award, U of Minnesota, USA , 2010
Kauffman Foundation Dissertation Fellowship Award, USA , 2010
M.S., Best Master Thesis of the Year Award in Social Sciences, METU, Turkey, 2005
B.S., Valedictorian with the CGPA of 4.0/4.0, METU, Turkey, 2002
Teaching Interests
Entrepreneurship, International Business
Entrepreneurship, International Business
Research Interests
International entrepreneurship, high-tech immigrant entrepreneurship, woman entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial financing, entrepreneurship in developing countries, new venture innovation and performance
International entrepreneurship, high-tech immigrant entrepreneurship, woman entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial financing, entrepreneurship in developing countries, new venture innovation and performance
Professional Memberships
Strategic Management Society
Academy of International Business
Academy of Management
Strategic Management Society
Academy of International Business
Academy of Management