about me
My name is Hilary (He-Jin) Ahn and I am a 6th year PhD candidate in Strategy & Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I am currently on the job market.
My research passion lies in exploring the fundamental questions within the field of Strategy and Entrepreneurship. My dissertation focuses on an important source of early-stage firm growth - VC (Venture Capital). Specifically, I investigate the growth and profitability emphases of entrepreneurial firms as mechanisms of signaling to the VCs. I also explore the antecedents to becoming a venture capitalist to understand their decision-making processes.
I am passionate about uncovering novel insights from a unique context that is deeply rooted in practice. During my PhD, I have meticulously constructed a 25-year long data pipeline from the context of the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), the largest global tournament that trains students to "think like venture capitalists." I worked in collaboration with practitioners to transform this phenomenal context into a viable data pipeline. The unique nature of VCIC, involving ventures, VCs, and students, enables me to ask interesting questions using novel methodologies. More information about VCIC can be found here. This dataset has significant potential for a more in-depth study of firm growth beyond the early stages.
In my dissertation, I combine quantitative analysis with qualitative methods such as Dictionary-Based Computerized Text Analysis and interviews. I have invested in building a strong methodological toolkit that allows me to find robust evidence for my research questions. As a scholar, I believe in purposeful growth and continuous learning to deliver research and teaching with authenticity and compassion.
My research passion lies in exploring the fundamental questions within the field of Strategy and Entrepreneurship. My dissertation focuses on an important source of early-stage firm growth - VC (Venture Capital). Specifically, I investigate the growth and profitability emphases of entrepreneurial firms as mechanisms of signaling to the VCs. I also explore the antecedents to becoming a venture capitalist to understand their decision-making processes.
I am passionate about uncovering novel insights from a unique context that is deeply rooted in practice. During my PhD, I have meticulously constructed a 25-year long data pipeline from the context of the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), the largest global tournament that trains students to "think like venture capitalists." I worked in collaboration with practitioners to transform this phenomenal context into a viable data pipeline. The unique nature of VCIC, involving ventures, VCs, and students, enables me to ask interesting questions using novel methodologies. More information about VCIC can be found here. This dataset has significant potential for a more in-depth study of firm growth beyond the early stages.
In my dissertation, I combine quantitative analysis with qualitative methods such as Dictionary-Based Computerized Text Analysis and interviews. I have invested in building a strong methodological toolkit that allows me to find robust evidence for my research questions. As a scholar, I believe in purposeful growth and continuous learning to deliver research and teaching with authenticity and compassion.
