ABOUT

Killian McCarthy is a Professor of Strategy. His research focuses on how firms create and
sustain value in dynamic environments through Strategy, Scaling, and Systems.

Killian has studied more than 500,000 acquisitions, 100,000 alliances, 50,000 corporate venturing deals, and 5,000 divestitures. His work has been published in high-impact journals like Research
Planning and high-visibility journals like Harvard Business Review. 

Killian believes that knowledge should be shared in a practical way. He therefore also offers strategic advice, holds workshops, and conducts custom research for industry.

About Image

​CURRENT ACTIVITIES

Professor of Strategy, with appointments at Radboud University Nijmegen (the Netherlands), Kyiv School of Economics (Ukraine), and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Beyond university, Killian offers strategic advice, holds workshops, and conducts custom research for industry.

Activity IconActivity IconActivity Icon

PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE

Killian’s research focuses on how firms create and sustain value in dynamic and competitive environments.
To understand this, he examines three interrelated topics “Strategy, Scaling, Systems”.

STRATEGY

addresses challenges

01/03

How do firms position themselves to create value by aligning internal resources with external opportunities and adapting to market dynamics?

READ MORE

SCALING

addresses challenges

02/03

How do firms use tools like mergers and acquisitions to unlock synergies and scale their operations for sustainable growth?

READ MORE

​SYSTEMS

addresses challenges

03/03

How do firms navigate public policy and regulatory shifts, respond to global changes, and maintain legitimacy in a changing operating environment?

READ MORE

​SCIENTIFIC & PRACTICAL IMPACT

​Killian is a big believer in big data. He has analyzed the financial and innovation-based performance of over 500,000 acquisitions, 100,000 alliances, 50,000 corporate venturing deals, and 5,000 divestitures. The results of his investigations have been featured in top-tier scientific journals, such as Research Policy and Long Range Planning, and high-impact business publications, such as the Harvard Business Review.

​Killian also believes, however, that knowledge should be shared in a way that it inspires action. Whether teaching future leaders in the classroom, speaking at global conferences, running workshops or trainings or providing advice for industry, his goal is to transform the insights gleams from the most-cutting edge and complex research, into clear, actionable strategies that help organizations thrive.

Activity Icon
Activity Icon
Activity Icon
Activity Icon
Activity Icon
Activity Icon

​ACADEMIC JOURNEY

​Killian dedicated years to understanding and shaping value creation. Before joining Radboud University, he was a Professor at the University of Groningen and a Visiting Professor at Loughborough University London and National Chiao Tung University Taiwan.

​He earned a PhD in Economics from Groningen, Master's Degrees in Economics from Utrecht University and the University of Vienna, and a Bachelor's, with a double major in Economics and Law, from the National University of Ireland, all of which were earned with the highest honours.

​Each step of his education and career has provided him with new insights and solutions to dealing with complex challenges, all of which he is happy to share, to better enable businesses to navigate change confidently.

Activity Icon
Activity Icon
Activity Icon
Activity Icon
Activity Icon