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Magdalena Cholakova is an Associate Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship in the Department of Strategic Management & Entrepreneurship at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.

The research lines she is currently pursuing include:  Entrepreneurial learning and early-stage idea validation. She studies this topic by using experiments with entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial populations, as well as by collecting longitudinal qualitative data from early-stage companies.

She also develops conceptual work on the role of different types of counterfactual reasoning in supporting effective entrepreneurial behavior.  Institutional complexity and strategic renewal. She focuses on the capacity of individuals within existing organizations to cope with change and pursue successful core innovations. She has addressed this topic by tapping into the microfoundations (cognitive and affective) of institutional complexity, studying how individuals' cognitive complexity affects the extent to which they perceive and respond to conflicting institutional logics differently. Similarly, she has also studied how individuals' ability to engage in both exploration and exploitation behavior can influence the organization's ambidexterity and performance. Her work here is both conceptual and qualitative.   Effective decision making heuristics under Knightian uncertainty. She studies this topic in the context of angel investing (using verbal protocol analysis techniques) and crowdfunding (using quasi-experimental techniques).   Crowdfunding and the role of pecuniary and non pecuniary incentives in investment decisions. Her work here is based on quasi-experimental techniques.

Magdalena holds a PhD in Business Administration and Management from Bocconi University, a MPhil in Organizational Behavior from Trinity College Dublin and a MSc in Statistics from Trinity College Dublin. Her research has been published in the Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practrice Journal, International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior, and the Entrepreneurship Research Journal.   Research Interests: Entrepreneurial Learning, Idea Validation, Cognition, Judgment under Uncertainty; Institutional Logics, Angel and Crowdfund Investing.

Publications

Academic (7)
  • Varga, S., Cholakova, M., Jansen, J., Mom, T., & Kok, G. (2023). From platform growth to platform scaling: The role of decision rules and network effects over time. Journal of Business Venturing, 38(6), Article 106346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2023.106346

  • Cornelissen, J., & Cholakova, M. (2019). Profits Uber everything? The gig economy and the morality of category work. Strategic Organization. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476127019894506

  • Mom, T., Chang, YY., Cholakova, M., & Jansen, J. (2019). A Multilevel Integrated Framework of Firm HR Practices, Individual Ambidexterity and Organizational Ambidexterity. Journal of Management, 45(7), 3009-3034. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206318776775

  • Cholakova, M., & Clarysse, B. (2015). Does the possibility to make equity investments in crowdfunding projects crowd out reward-based investments? Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 39(1), 145-172. https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12139

  • Grandori, A., & Cholakova, M. (2013). Unbounding bounded rationality: Heuristics as the logic of economic discovery. International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior, 16(3), 368-392. http://hdl.handle.net/1765/51430

  • Cholakova, M. (2013). Comment on 'Alliance Governance and Performance in SMEs: Matching Relational and Contractual Governance with Alliance Goals'. Entrepreneurship Research Journal, 3(1), 130-133. https://doi.org/10.1515/erj-2012-0030

  • Hayton, J., & Cholakova, M. (2012). The role of affect in the creation and intentional pursuit of entrepreneurial ideas. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 36(1), 41-68. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2011.00458.x

Professional (1)
Academic (1)
  • Cholakova, M., & Ravasi, D. (2019). Why do individuals perceive and respond to the same institutional demands differently? On the cognitive structural underpinnings of institutional complexity. In P. Haack, J. Sieweke, & L. Wessel (Eds.), Microfoundations of Institutions (pp. 99-118). Emerald Group Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0733-558X2019000065A011

Academic (19)
  • Cholakova, M., & Grandori, A. (2019). Epistemically rational heuristics for judgment under uncertainty.. Strategic Management Society Special Conference “Hits and Misses: Strategic Decisions in an Uncertain World”, Frankfurt, Germany.

  • Cholakova, M., & Grandori, A. (2019). Angels as scientists – Epistemic heuristics for judgment under uncertainty. Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference, Babson, USA.

  • Cholakova, M., & Cornelissen, J. (2018). Sailing towards an unknowable future: How different types of factual reasoning support early-stage entrepreneurial idea validation. 10th International Process Symposium on Temporality and History in Organization Studies, Halkidiki, Greece.

  • Cholakova, M., Cornelissen, J., & Andriopoulos, C. (2017). What if I do or I don’t, had or had not: The role of prefactual and counterfactual thinking in supporting entrepreneurial reasoning. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Atlanta, USA. https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2017.14432abstract

  • Cholakova, M., & Cornelissen, J. (2017). Being a permanent beta – How different types of factual reasoning support effective opportunity development. European Theory Development Workshop, Zurich, Switzerland.

  • Cholakova, M., & Glaser, V. (2017). Incubating innovation: How organizations design and enact complex clusters of routines. 9th International Process Symposium on Institutions and Organizations, Kos, Greece.

  • Cholakova, M., & Grandori, A. (2016). Neither fast, nor frugal and simple: Epistemic heuristics for strategic decision making. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Anaheim, USA. https://doi.org/10.5465/ambpp.2016.17713abstract

  • Cholakova, M., & Ravasi, D. (2014). On the microfoundations of institutional complexity: Why do some individuals perceive multiple logics as conflicting while others do not?. 30th EGOS Colloquium, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

  • Cholakova, M., & Grandori, A. (2014). Neither biasing, nor frugal: Complex heuristics for Innovative Strategic Decision Making. SMS Special Conference ‘Microfoundations for Strategic Management Research: Embracing Individuals’, Copenhagen, Denmark.

  • Cholakova, M., & Clarysse, B. (2013). Does the possibility of making equity investments in crowdfunding projects crowd out our pro-social motivation?. 10th Annual NYU-Stern Conference on Social Entrepreneurship, New York, USA.

  • Cholakova, M. (2013). Evaluation under uncertainty: Does following the ‘what if’ path foster entrepreneurial thinking?. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Lake Buena Vista, USA.

  • Cholakova, M. (2012). Imagining future entrepreneurial opportunities: When does it hurt to keep ourselves in the frame?. 5th Israel Strategy Conference Doctoral Consortium, Tel Aviv, Israel.

  • Cholakova, M. (2012). Too dear to be too clear: The role of emotional attachment and reappraisal in evaluating novel ideas.. 32nd Annual Strategic Management Conference, Prague, Czech Republic.

  • Cholakova, M., & Grandori, A. (2012). Effective heuristics for decisions under uncertainty: Lessons from angel investing.. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Boston, USA.

  • Cholakova, M. (2011). Integrated Differentiation: A cognitive and affective perspective to risky decision making. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, San Antonio, USA.

  • Cholakova, M., & Hayton, J. (2010). The role of affect in entrepreneurial opportunity recognition and evaluation.. Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada.

  • Cholakova, M., & Fellenz, M. (2010). Avoiding an early escape: The role of self-concept clarity in coping with negative change events.. 15th European Conference on Personality Psychology, Brno, Czech Republic.

  • Cholakova, M., & Fellenz, M. (2009). Cognition and change: The role of self-unity, complexity and need for structure in coping and identity negotiation. International Society for the Study of Individual Differences, Chicago, USA.

  • Cholakova, M. (2008). An individual or an interpersonal chameleon: Which personality factors support coping with identity change in organizations?. 14th European Conference on Personality Psychology, Tartu, Estonia.

Academic (2)

Awards

Courses

Qualitative research in Strategic Management & Strategic Entrepreneurship

  • Study year: 2024/2025, 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022
  • Code: BMRMSE-SM-QUAL
  • Level: Master

Past courses

Reflective Bootcamp

  • Study year: 2023/2024
  • Code: BMME199
  • Level: Master

Behavioral Strategy & Entrepreneurial Behavior

  • Study year: 2022/2023, 2020/2021
  • Code: BERMASC047
  • Level: PhD

Entrepreneurial Skillset

  • Study year: 2022/2023, 2021/2022, 2020/2021, 2019/2020, 2018/2019
  • Code: BMSE03
  • Level: ERIM, Exchange, IM/CEMS, Master

Business Management

  • Study year: 2021/2022
  • Code: B3MIN1054
  • Level: Bachelor 3

IM Research clinic

  • Study year: 2021/2022
  • Code: BM-IM-RC
  • Level: Master

Strategic Management

  • Study year: 2021/2022, 2020/2021
  • Code: BT2114
  • Level: Bachelor 2, Bachelor 3, Pre-master

Business Strategy Skills

  • Study year: 2020/2021, 2019/2020
  • Code: BMSM07
  • ECTS: 3 Level: Master

Strategic Management

  • Study year: 2020/2021, 2019/2020, 2018/2019, 2017/2018, 2016/2017, 2015/2016
  • Code: BAB18
  • Level: Bachelor 2, Bachelor 2, Pre-master

IM Research clinic

  • Study year: 2019/2020, 2018/2019
  • Code: BM-IMRC
  • Level: Master

Doing Qualitative Research

  • Study year: 2018/2019
  • Code: BERMSS021
  • ECTS: 3 Level: Master

Strategies for building an effective managerial skillset

  • Study year: 2018/2019, 2017/2018, 2016/2017, 2015/2016
  • Code: BMME083
  • ECTS: 6 Level: Master

Your Future Career

  • Study year: 2018/2019
  • Code: BMMEYFC
  • ECTS: 1 Level: Master

Entrepreneurial Skillset

  • Study year: 2017/2018, 2016/2017, 2015/2016
  • Code: BM03SE
  • ECTS: 6 Level: Master

Strategic Entrepreneurship

  • Study year: 2017/2018
  • Code: BERMASC027
  • ECTS: 5 Level: Master

Featured in the media

  • Zo vind je de juiste zakenpartner

    Magdalene Cholakova, Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at RSM, discusses business partnerships of entrepreneurs.

  • ‘Bedrijven als Uber moeten anders worden geclassificeerd’

    Companies such as Uber, which supply on demand, must be classified differently. The category in which Uber wants to see himself classified is morally and legally doubtful, says new research by Magdalena Cholakova and professor…

  • ‘Bedrijven als Uber moeten anders worden geclassificeerd’

    Companies such as Uber, which supply on demand, must be classified differently. The category in which Uber wants to see himself classified is morally and legally doubtful, says new research by Magdalena Cholakova and professor…

  • ‘BEDRIJVEN ALS UBER MOETEN ANDERS WORDEN GECLASSIFICEERD’

    Companies such as Uber, which supply on demand, must be classified differently. The category in which Uber wants to see himself classified is morally and legally doubtful, says new research by Magdalena Cholakova and professor…

  • Winst Uber alles

    Companies such as Uber, which supply on demand, must be classified differently. The category in which Uber wants to see himself classified is morally and legally doubtful, says new research by Magdalena Cholakova and professor…

  • Rotterdamse wetenschappers waarschuwen voor framing van bedrijven als Uber

    An article regarding research done by Joep Cornelissen and Magdalena Cholakova into Uber.

  • Uber workers cling to “precarious” existence

    An article regarding Joep Cornelissen's en Magdalena Cholakova's new research that examines Uber’s argument that its drivers are “independent workers” who are, in some respects, like individuals working for others and in other…

  • De keerzijde van een nieuw businessmodel: winst Uber alles

    Digitization has brought us platforms such as Airbnb, Facebook and Uber. These are companies that rent out rooms without owning real estate, offering content without employing editors or arranging transport without owning cars.…

  • Nieuwe categorie schijnzelfstandigen 'moreel en juridisch twijfelachtig'

    An article that discusses new research conducted by Joep Cornelissen and Magdalena Cholakova on Uber.

  • Winst Uber alles

    For employees, it is of great importance how companies like Uber, which supply on demand, are classified. The category in which Uber wants to see himself classified is morally and legally questionable, according to new research by…

  • Want to be a leader? Train your reflection skills!

    Magdalena Cholakova, Assistant Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship at RSM, has been mentioned in an article regarding her goal to help students develop core leadership skills, using an experiential learning approach, coupled…

  • Magdalena, at home in five countries

    “I’ve lived in five different countries, so now wherever I go I never feel like a foreigner”, says Magdalena Cholakova. In this feature, the RSM Assistant Professor elaborates on how it is to live in different countries and…

Featured on RSM Discovery

The 40th edition of RSM Discovery is now live!

Scale-ups are the engine of growth and innovation of economies; they create jobs and help develop sustainable solutions for socio-economic challenges.

Discovery 40: Fine-tuning the engine of long-term sustainable growth

Discover how start-ups and scale-ups drive sustainable economic growth in the Netherlands. Explore insights from experts on entrepreneurship, scaling strategies, and the need for stronger support systems.

Profits Uber everything