About Me

I'm Derek Lief, an Assistant Professor of Strategy and Statistics at Fordham University at the Gabelli School of Business. 

My research focuses on better understanding how firms can most competitively position themselves through the selection of human capital, and the incentive structures they implement to attract, retain and motivate job seekers and employees alike. I also examine how incentives affect both an entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial outcomes. Theoretically, I adopt an interdisciplinary approach that draws on insights from strategic management, organization theory, economic sociology, and political science. Methodologically, I run experiments, conduct econometric analyses on observational data, and employ qualitative methods.

My interest in human capital, entrepreneurship and the intersection of religion and business stems from my experience as a consultant with FTI Consulting from 2008 - 2012, and the roughly seven years I have spent living in the Middle East, including both Israel and Jordan. I am originally from San Francisco. 

You can find my CV here.

Contact: dlief1@fordham.edu