Samia M.

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT SAMIA M.

As Co-Lead of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management Research Cluster at the University of Wolverhampton, I lead a team of researchers focused on advancing knowledge in entrepreneurship and SME development. As the Postgraduate Research Tutor for Business and Law, I also oversee the PhD students\' programme in the Business and Law Schools.My expertise centres on gender dynamics, entrepreneurship, digitalisation in SMEs, and women’s leadership, as demonstrated by my membership in the Gender and Enterprise Network Committee of ISBE. I am especially committed to supporting women in business leadership and SME growth within the Midlands. My research addresses key challenges such as barriers to accessing finance, the role of digitalisation, and the contextual factors that influence entrepreneurial success. These insights can provide practical, evidence-based strategies for businesses aiming to innovate and grow.Currently, I am engaged in impactful projects, including membership in the newly formed Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Policy and Research Working Group, where we advance gender equality, diversity, and inclusion within UK manufacturing. I recently co-authored “Investigating Disparities in SMEs Digitalisation,” a study funded by the Department for Business and Trade that explores disparities in SME digitalisation across gender, ethnicity, region, and industry. This study offers insights businesses can apply directly to enhance competitiveness and inclusivity.Through the EU Horizon 2020 project “Reshaping Labour Force Participation with Artificial Intelligence,” I am developing a gender analysis framework to assess AI\'s impact on future workforce participation, aiming to guide business leaders in planning for a gender-inclusive technological landscape.I am particularly interested in collaborating with businesses in the Black Country and Midlands on Management Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (mKTPs), where my research can be directly applied to support business innovation, digitalisation, and strategic growth. My experience in gender-focused, entrepreneurial finance and digitalisation can provide value to organisations looking to integrate research-backed strategies into their operations. If you are interested in exploring collaborative opportunities for research projects, digitalisation strategies, or Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), I welcome you to connect with me.