2026 Best 40-Under-40 Business Professors: Fei Gao, Indiana Kelley School of Business

 

Fei Gao
Indiana University Bloomington
Kelley School of Business  

“One of my favorite professors this year. He taught me all about spreadsheet modeling, pretty elementary stuff for him, but incredibly complex for me. He has made the class both fun and knowledgeable. He knows his stuff well, and my life has been positively affected because of him. He is insanely talented in the classroom. As one of his current students, he’s an amazing teacher who deserves all the recognition coming his way.” – Andrew Stephens

Fei Gao, 38, is an Associate Professor of Operations Management and Grant Thornton Scholar at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University Bloomington. His research sits at the intersection of operations management, marketing, and social responsibility, with a particular focus on omnichannel retailing, the marketing–operations interface, and sustainable operations.  

Gao’s research has been published in many of the field’s most prestigious academic journals, including Management Science, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (M&SOM), and Production and Operations Management, where his articles have addressed topics such as omnichannel retail strategies, carbon offsetting, and sustainable product design. His scholarship has earned significant recognition, including the Best Operations Management Paper in Management Science Award (2020) and the M&SOM Best Paper Award (2020). Several of his papers have also been finalists or featured articles, reflecting both their academic impact and practical relevance.  

He has received numerous research awards and honors throughout his career. Notable distinctions include the Early Career Research Impact Award from the Kelley School of Business (2022), the Chelliah Sriskandarajah Early Career Research Accomplishments Award (runner-up, 2023), and multiple recognitions in competitive paper competitions such as the POMS College of Behavior in Operations Management Junior Scholar Competition and the M&SOM Practice-Based Research Competition.  

In addition to his research achievements, Gao is a dedicated educator and has been recognized for his excellence in teaching. He received the Indiana University Trustee Teaching Award (2019) and has taught across undergraduate, MBA, and PhD programs, covering topics such as supply chain management, spreadsheet modeling, and game theory in operations.   

BACKGROUND 

At current institution since what year? 2017 

Education: PhD, Operations Management, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 2017; MS, Management Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, 2012; BS, Information Management and Information Systems, Tsinghua University, 2010. 

List of MBA/graduate business courses you currently teach:  Introduction to Spreadsheet Modeling 

 

TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR 

I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when …  I worked as a tutor during my undergraduate studies at Tsinghua University, and that experience made me realize how much I enjoy teaching. I am also genuinely interested in how businesses operate, which led me to pursue studies in business schools. Becoming a business school professor was therefore a natural choice for me. 

What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? My coauthors and I are currently researching the impact of AI on volunteer performance in nonprofit organizations. Using a multi-method approach that combines analytical modeling and empirical analysis, we study how AI affects productivity in a context where individuals are not driven by monetary incentives—an area that has received limited attention in prior research. 

One of our most significant findings is that, contrary to the positive effects of AI commonly observed among paid employees, introducing AI leads to a decline in volunteers’ weekly contributions. Importantly, this effect is heterogeneous: less experienced volunteers experience a sustained decrease in productivity, while more experienced volunteers increase their contributions after AI adoption. This highlights how motivation and experience shape the impact of AI, and underscores the need to account for the unique characteristics of nonprofit organizations when evaluating new technologies. 

If I weren’t a business school professor… Perhaps a consultant, more realistically. But I’ve always wanted to be a journalist. 

What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? I am an energetic person and genuinely enjoy the subjects I teach. I strive to make my classroom engaging for my students. I also incorporate insights from my own research and recent academic literature into my teaching.  

Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor:  You need to stay connected to how the real-world works, since students are quick to point out when something does not feel relevant or practical. 

Professor I most admire and why:  It’s hard to choose just one—my advisors, coauthors, and colleagues at IU have all been incredibly inspiring. 

What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? What I enjoy most is learning from my students; they often offer insightful and diverse perspectives. 

What is most challenging? Keeping up with the rapid changes in the business world, especially in the AI era. 

When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as…  Fair 

 LIFE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM 

What are your hobbies? Running, swimming, pickleball 

How will you spend your summer? Travel with my family 

Favorite place(s) to vacation:  Beach 

Favorite book(s):  I enjoy reading biographies in general. 

What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much?  I recently watched F1: The Movie and really enjoyed it. I like how the teams and drivers use different strategies to win races, which reminds me of game theory, a tool I often use in my research to study how different players interact in the business world. 

What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? Pop music. It makes me feel good, especially when I am feeling tired. 

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS 

If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this…  A greater focus on teaching students how to think, interact, and communicate effectively with both people and machines. 

In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at…  Better understanding the role of humans in the AI era. 

I’m grateful for…  The support of my family, friends, advisors and colleagues. 

DON’T MISS: THE ENTIRE 2026 ROSTER OF THE WORLD’S BEST 40-UNDER-40 GRADUATE BUSINESS PROFESSORS 

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