Researching Resilience in Fragile Contexts: Anne-Sophie’s Path from Consulting to Purpose-Driven Research
When Anne-Sophie first heard someone mention a PhD, she wasn’t even sure what it entailed. Years later, she’s in Iraq, conducting field research on entrepreneurship in one of the world’s most complex and uncertain environments. Her path to a Ph.D. in Entrepreneurship wasn’t linear—but it was deeply intentional.
After completing a master’s degree in business at IE Business School in Madrid at just 21, Anne-Sophie entered the world of strategy consulting. The work was fast-paced and intellectually stimulating, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. As her roles shifted toward business development, she realized she was spending more time extracting value than creating it. Even in the startup world, where innovation thrives, she found herself asking, “Why can’t I stay motivated?”
That question lingered until a friend reminded her of her early enthusiasm for research. The memory struck a chord. She recalled how energized she’d felt during her research-heavy master’s projects, and how much she enjoyed conversations with doctoral students diving deep into complex ideas. That quiet nudge reignited a sense of purpose.
As she explored PhD programs, she sought more than prestige—she looked for alignment. Schools that prioritized entrepreneurship research, collaborative culture, and meaningful mentorship rose to the top. Kelley stood out. During interviews, the conversations felt genuine. Professors were present, engaged, and curious—not just about her résumé, but about her story.
The decision came easily. She accepted Kelley’s offer without hesitation.
Since then, Anne-Sophie’s work has taken her into the heart of post-conflict entrepreneurship. A chance conversation at a birthday party in Rome introduced her to a grassroots entrepreneurship initiative in Iraq. Weeks later, she was on the ground in Erbil and Baghdad, interviewing young Iraqis building a tech startup ecosystem from the ground up.
Her dissertation follows these local innovators as they navigate institutional gaps, foreign aid pressures, and cultural expectations. Rather than simply applying global models of entrepreneurship, they reinterpret them—creating something distinctively their own. Through immersive, qualitative research, Anne-Sophie is capturing how these entrepreneurs not only build businesses but reimagine what progress and agency can look like in fragile states.
The work is personal, rigorous, and impactful. It speaks to the power of entrepreneurship to drive social transformation and highlights voices often absent from mainstream research.
Reflecting on her journey, Anne-Sophie describes the PhD experience as one of deep growth:
“It’s been the most enriching journey of my life. I love who I’ve become through this process.”
From boardrooms in Europe to the streets of Baghdad, her story shows how purpose-driven research can not only lead to academic insight—but also aim at real change in the world.