2025 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Christian Hampel, Imperial Business School

 

Christian Hampel
Imperial Business School

“Professor Hampel’s Leading Social Innovation elective was one of the most impactful courses of my academic journey. Through his structured and engaging teaching style, he not only conveyed the importance of businesses creating positive social and environmental impact but also inspired me to pursue social impact consulting as my passion and purpose. What set his teaching apart was his ability to challenge students to think critically about the role of business in society and explore innovative solutions to global challenges. This course broadened my understanding of impact-driven business and gave me the confidence to align my career with my values.” – Despina Pourika

Christian Hampel, 36, is an Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation at Imperial Business School. 

His research focuses on how startups and emerging organizations manage how they are evaluated (e.g., legitimacy, stigma, hype). Hampel focuses especially on mission-driven organizations that seek to create social impact. 

His work has been published in leading journals, such as the Academy of Management Journal and Academy of Management Review. 

In 2023, he became the youngest recipient of the Excellence Award for Innovation in Teaching at Imperial Business School. He is also an Associate Research Fellow of the Cambridge Centre for Social Innovation. His dissertation was one of three finalists for the 2017 Grigor McClelland Doctoral Dissertation award.

BACKGROUND

At current institution since what year? 2017

Education: MPhil and PhD from the University of Cambridge; BSc from the University of Warwick.

List of MBA courses you currently teach: Elective module Leading Social Innovation, which I designed to equip students to build and develop businesses that address social problems effectively. 

TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR

I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when… I realized how rewarding it is to develop new ideas and explore them together – be it with colleagues or with my students, who are our future leaders.

What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? My research focuses on an important dilemma that startups and emerging organizations face: they need support from others (e.g., employees, investors, the media) to establish themselves and succeed but they lack the long, positive track record that would help them with this. My research has explained how these enterprises overcome major challenges (e.g., a backlash to a pivot; becoming stigmatized) to gain favorable social evaluations among potential supporters. The most significant discovery of my research has been to explain in various papers with my co-authors how new enterprises can achieve this. For example, I have shown how new ventures that face a backlash to their pivot can repair relations with supporters by exposing their weaknesses selectively and affirming their mission. 

Most recently, I have been researching together with my colleague Elena Dalpiaz how hype can lead startups astray so that they cross moral boundaries and, crucially, how they can correct that. Our study cautions startups to watch out for what we call “antagonistic excitement” which is a type of buzz that arises from acting aggressively in an “us against the world” manner. While this can be intoxicating at first, it ends up being toxic when it creates harm for society, the startup, and its staff.

If I weren’t a business school professor… I would probably be an investigative journalist or a therapist for leaders – both roles that seem intellectually interesting and support society. Or perhaps I’d try training as a yoga teacher!

What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? I hope that my passion for what I teach comes through. Relatedly, I am a firm believer in interactive, experiential sessions in which students regularly apply what they learn through exercises and we then develop insights together. This creates a special learning environment that fosters aha moments. But you have to ask my students to get the full picture!

One word that describes my first time teaching: Intense.

Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: That business school is a team sport – and all the better for it. Whether it’s co-creating a great, illuminating session with students and colleagues, or developing novel research insights with co-authors. 

Professor I most admire and why: I am grateful that I have had the opportunity to work with great, inspiring professors. My biggest role model is my PhD supervisor Paul Tracey. He combines brilliance, dedication and humility in his unique way and has a great sense of humor, among other great qualities. 

TEACHING MBA STUDENTS

What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? The intellectual exchange with my students, especially when they share their interesting questions and their many different perspectives. It’s rewarding to learn from their varied experiences and work together to arrive at insights for everyone. 

What is most challenging? Finishing the session on time when there is so much exciting stuff to explore.

In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Interested.

In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Disengaged.

When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as… demanding and fair. 

LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM

What are your hobbies? Many, such as swimming, yoga, and reading. 

How will you spend your summer? A mix of research, conferences and holidays – the latter will ideally reflect the answer to my next question!

Favorite place(s) to vacation: Somewhere near (or in!) a body of water – be it a lake, a river or by the sea. 

Favorite book(s): Too many to list here. The first that comes to mind is Hermann Hesse’s The Glass Bead Game. Hesse builds a fascinating world, poses intriguing questions and is a great narrator. 

What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? When it comes to TV shows, I am coming back to Friends currently due to the humor. Admittedly, I also got back into it in part because Ross Geller’s famous “pivot” scene nicely sets up one of my research papers about the challenges of entrepreneurial pivoting. My favorite movie is probably “The Secret in their Eyes”. It is moving, thought-provoking and has a distinct aesthetic. 

What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? This varies a lot, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fia, Schubert – in no particular order. I don’t think there is a discernible pattern (at least I haven’t found it!), apart from listening to music that speaks to me in the moment.

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS

If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this… an even greater focus on business for good. Business schools have been focusing more on how to equip students to run businesses in a way that supports society and the environment. It would be great if one day we no longer had to make a distinction between impact businesses and commercial businesses because all businesses will by then naturally deliver returns to society, alongside returns to investors. 

In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at… proactively developing a long-term strategy and delivering it with conviction, rather than flip-flopping reactively at the sight of the first new fad, trend or criticism.

I’m grateful for… the wonderful people in my life!

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE 2025 ROSTER OF THE WORLD’S BEST 40-UNDER-40 MBA PROFESSORS