The Interview – Eileen Fischer
As mentioned in the introductory letter to this edition of the newsletter, changes are in store for Schulich’s Research Office: Eileen Fischer’s term as Associate Dean, Research (ADR) will be coming to an end on June 30, 2026.
Eileen will be leaving the office in good hands: Moren Lévesque will be assuming the role of Associate Dean, Research on July 1, 2026. We sat down with Eileen and asked her to reflect on her time in the role.
Your Time (and Research) at Schulich
Hi Eileen! Thank you for meeting with us today! Please, tell us a bit about yourself!
I joined what was then York’s Faculty of Administrative Studies in 1988. Despite the fact that I was about as awkward as someone going for a job interview could be – I purposely interviewed wearing a suit two sizes too large hoping to be taken seriously as a scholar – I was hired.
Well, I’m sure it made an impression of some sort! So, how did it feel when you started at Schulich?
Fortunately, I found it the right place for me, given my atypical mix of interests in both entrepreneurship and consumer behavior, and my affinity for qualitative research.
The thing I learned about the culture at what is now Schulich is that “fitting in” didn’t really matter. I was amazed and grateful to be rewarded for doing the “weird” research that suited my interests so long as I published it in decent journals, which was exactly what I aspired to do. To put it colloquially, being a prof here has been and continues to be a great gig.
With that in mind, that seems like a good time to ask the question “tell us a bit about your research” – what’s your primary area of focus?
Typically, I study phenomena at the market level of analysis.
My research today builds on the foundations that were set in place when I joined. I draw on theories from diverse areas (sociology, strategy, science and technology studies, you name it) to study real-world contexts where entrepreneurs, consumers and other key stakeholders intersect.
For example, I’m presently working on understanding why markets become and remain polarized (a project with Schulich alumna Rowan El-Bialy and my wonderful Schulich colleague Ela Veresiu). Part of what we are attentive to in that project is how both entrepreneurial actors and ordinary consumers may be entangled in polarizing dynamics.
You’re the Anne & Max Tanenbaum Chair in Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise – how does your academic background in marketing align with entrepreneurial studies? What’s the relationship?
I’ve been proud and privileged to hold the Tanenbaum Chair for more than a decade. The generous support it provides is much appreciated, as is the symbolic value of the title. It signals my personal belief in a commitment to the entrepreneurial sector of the Canadian economy.
Recently, my interest has been on how individuals have harnessed digital platform markets to pursue entrepreneurial options, as reflected in a paper I recently published with another Schulich alumna, Daiane Scaraboto.
With close to 24,000 citations, you’re one of the most cited members of Schulich’s faculty – while it’s probably hard to choose, is there a particular paper or piece of work that you’re most proud of?
I don’t know if there is a particular paper I’m most proud of! I’m always excited most by whatever I’m working on currently.
One paper that’s top of mind for me right now is a study that started during Covid and that looks at the factors that prevent us from repairing day-to-day routines when there is widespread practice breakdown. This has been an emotionally gut-wrenching project to work on but I feel it has some important public policy implications. My co-authors on the project (Ghalia Shamayleh and Schulich alumnus Pierre-Yann Dolbec) hope to get the paper through on the next round of review.
As to well-cited papers, I have always been amazed and amused by what attracts citations. My now most highly-cited paper is one that was very much a side project both for me and my co-authors, Chen Yongjian and Andrew Smith (who is yet another Schulich alumnus). In that paper we compared and contrasted brand-related user-generated content across three social media platforms. It was a simple descriptive study that now has more than 2100 citations. It has even been replicated! Why that study? Such are the mysteries of life!
As ADR: Achievements and Priorities
You’ve been the Associate Dean, Research (ADR) since 2022. What made you interested in the ADR role originally?
I had been Associate Dean, Research from 1994 to 1997, and I’d enjoyed the role then because it gave me a voice at the table to advocate for support for researchers.
So when Dean Zwick asked me to take on the job this time, I was happy to step in again. My immediate predecessor, Theo Noseworthy, had been very proactive and effective in advocating for research support, and it was clear to me that the senior leadership team (in particular the Dean), wanted to ensure that research continued to be promoted as much as possible. That made it even more appealing.
What were your priorities when you took over as ADR? Did you find that they changed over time?
My immediate priority when I took over as ADR was to ensure the continuity of support for Schulich researchers in terms of helping them get the resources they needed (money and time) to do what they’re so good at doing. After being in the job for a short while, I realized that there were opportunities for increasing support for knowledge mobilization and for growing our research reputation to make it commensurate with our current achievements.
How would you describe the research culture at Schulich? Do you think that it’s changed during your time as ADR?
Our research culture is extremely strong. Our faculty publishes widely and well. They do work that’s impactful, not only in terms of citations, but in terms of influencing what stakeholders think and do in the real world. I’m proud to be a member of such a productive and dedicated cadre.
What Does the Future Hold?
Since we might not be able to get a (candid) answer from you in the future, in your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by researchers working at business schools today?
There are quite a few, but, four that come to mind immediately:
- There are challenges related to university funding in general and research funding in particular.
- There are challenges related to designing and executing impactful research when many in society mistrust experts and their expertise.
- There are challenges related to the “chill” associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion-related research.
- There are challenges related to both misusing and failing to use AI.
Based on your experiences as ADR (and as a member of Schulich’s research community), are there any emerging research areas or topics that you think are underexplored but are important for future faculty members to study?
Research that looks at the social and economic issues associated with emerging technologies, industries, and national priorities will always be timely.
What are your plans for the future as you exit the ADR role?
I’m really looking forward to re-engaging more deeply with my existing research projects, and to starting some new ones!
Thank you Eileen! And thank you very much for all your efforts to promote research at Schulich!
Eileen Fischer is a Professor of Marketing and the Anne & Max Tanenbaum Chair in Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise at the Schulich School of Business. Since 2022, she has served as the Associate Dean, Research (ADR). Her term as ADR will be coming to an end on June 30, 2026.
