Dr.

Di Bian

International Postdoc Fellow and Lecturer

2022: PhD in Management, University of St.Gallen (Supervised by Prof. Tomi Laamanen and Prof. Johannes Luger), with Highest Distinction
2020: Visiting PhD Student, INSEAD Singapore (Supervised by Prof. Henrich Greve and Prof. Vibha Gaba)
2016: Master in International Management, Tsinghua University, with Highest Scholarship, with CEMS Double Degree
2013: Bachelor of Science in Accounting, Central University of Finance and Economics, with Highest Distinction

Since 2023: Lecturer and Permanent Lecturer (since 2025) in the Master in General Management Program, University of St.Gallen
Since 2022: International Postdoctoral Fellow, University of St.Gallen

2023: Nominated for the Best Paper Prize of the SMS Annual Conference, Toronto
2023: Finalist for the Best Proposal Award of the SMS Corporate Strategy IG, Toronto
2020: Nominated for the Annual Conference PhD Paper Prize of the SMS Annual Conference, Virtual

Academic Outlets

Bian (2022). The Interrelationship Between the Target and the Acquirer in Acquisitions: A Review and Synthesis. Advances in Mergers and Acquisitions, 21, 31-49.
Bian, Chi, Haleblian & Laamanen. “Female CEOs in Mergers and Acquisitions” (title adapted for double-blind review). Revise and Resubmit at the Journal of Management Studies. Earlier Version Reported by the Financial Times.

Proceedings

Bian (2022). Too Many Moving Pieces: Parallel Acquisitions and Forecasting Bias in Acquisition Integration. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings (Abstract). https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2022.11212abstract
Bian, Chi, Haleblian, Laamanen (2021). When Beauty is Beastly: Facial Attractiveness of Female CEOs and Investor Reactions to Acquisitions. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings (Abstract). https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2021.10206abstract
Bian, Welch (2019). Aspirations of Peers – A Neglected Antecedent of Organizational Aspiration Levels? Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings (Abstract). https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2019.19560abstract
Laamanen, Zimmermann, Bian (2018). Not all Ways Lead to Rome: Different Approaches to Ambidexterity in Acquisition Sequences. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings (Abstract). https://doi.org/10.5465/AMBPP.2018.13912abstract

Practitioner Outlets

2022: Co-Authored the Joint Study between Deloitte Switzerland and the University of St.Gallen on “Insights from Swiss transformational deal-makers: Unlocking the full potential of M&A”
2020: Co-Authored the Joint Study between Deloitte Germany and the University of St.Gallen on “Transformation Champions Turning Opposites into Complements”
2017: Co-Authored the Joint Study between KPMG Switzerland and the University of St.Gallen on “Clarity on Performance of Swiss Private Banks”
2017: Co-Authored the Joint Study between Credit Suisse and the University of St.Gallen on “Swiss External Asset Managers Industry Report”

“Organizational Aspirations: The Antecedents, Realization Process and Adaptation,” funded by the Doc. Mobility Grant of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
Scholarship for the 15th Annual Doctoral Workshop at the 38th Strategic Management Society Conference
Research Grant and Fellowship Funding for International Postdoctoral Research by the University of St.Gallen
SAGW Congress Contributions for Young Researchers, Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Science
“Large Language Model–Based Multimodal Analysis of CEO Communication in Acquisitions” (title adapted for double-blind review), Under Review for Spark funding, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)