BIO
Haiyang Li grew up in the rural area of Tanghe, in central China. After a childhood filled with fond memories spent playing with his friends in the village, he studied economics at Renmin University of China, Beijing. He then attended graduate school for marketing, and earned a PhD from City University of Hong Kong. He worked at Lingnan University of Hong Kong as an assistant professor and then moved to Texas, where he and his wife continue to work. Li has been a professor of strategic management at the Jones Business School in Rice University since 2005. In this interview, Li covers the educational path that led him from indecision to economics to strategic management. He defines strategic management and explains the foundations of his research. He also compares the economic differences between China and the US, focusing on China’s reforms in the 90’s. Similarly, he explores the work-life balance disparity between China and the US, favoring the prioritization of health in the US. Then, Li shares his passions and philosophies regarding academia. He examines differences between teaching undergraduate and graduate students in his experience from Texas A&M to Rice. Lastly, he provides advice to business scholars and shares that he defines identity by what he does rather than where he’s from.