Marc van Essen
University of South Carolina
Darla Moore School of Business
“Marc is one of the brightest young scholars in International Business and Business. He is always committed to his students, being available, giving good advice and feedback. Personally and professionally, Marc is someone to admire, because of his teaching competencies but also because of his closeness and interest to develop his students.” – Ana Lissette Segovia Philip
Marc van Essen, 39, is Associate Dean of International Programs and Partnerships as well as a Professor within the Sonoco International Business Department at the University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School of Business. He currently teaches Business in Europe and Comparative Corporate Governance to undergrad students.
From 2017 to 2022, van Essen simultaneously served as the academic director of the Undergraduate International Business Major Program. He led the development of a new cohort program focused on Responsible International Leadership in partnership with ESSEC Business School in France. The cohort program provides students with the resources needed to become responsible, world-class leaders in the global workforce.
He was awarded the Best Professor of the Semester award by the Delta Zeta student organization, recognizing outstanding professors at the University of South Carolina. He also received the Thumbs Up Award from the USC Student Disability Resource Center, a recognition reserved for faculty members who go above and beyond to enhance the lives of students with disabilities.
His research interests encompass the intersection of institutions, corporate governance and firm strategy in an international setting, specifically focusing on family firms, innovation, sustainability and state ownership. His work has been published or is forthcoming in the Academy of Management Journal, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Journal of Banking and Finance, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, and Organization Science.
He is winner of numerous dissertation and best paper awards, and many of his papers were also included in the Best Paper Proceedings of the AOM’s Annual Meetings. Beyond academia, van Essen frequently consults with multinationals, family firms, and has worked with Rabobank, BDO, as well as World Bank on projects relating to corporate governance and family firms.
TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when … My undergraduate professor and later co-author, Pursey Heugens, motivated me to consider joining a PhD program. This changed my life. I am a first-generation student, and he gave me the confidence to give up my full-time job and follow my heart by researching topics I am passionate about. After working one year at Utrecht University, I then accepted my position at USC and discovered how much fun it is to educate students about international business. Through teaching, I can transfer my knowledge to students and introduce them to some of the most relevant and fascinating phenomena in international business. I have been very fortunate to be able to put my passion into practice.
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it? My current research focuses on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) as well as addressing broader governance issues. I contributed to a recently published paper addressing women board representation and its importance on firms’ social performance. We found that even a single woman on the board of directors can significantly improve a firm’s ability to practice corporate social responsibility. We also found that other factors, including where the company was headquartered, influenced how much change women could make in the organization. In addition, we determined that women in director roles have a stronger ability to positively affect their companies’ social and environmental impacts in societies emphasizing planning and investing for the future. There is ample room for improvement and, consequently, an opportunity for firms to increase women board representation. The benefits of this increased representation are evident in this study; now, it is up to firms to implement these findings.
If I weren’t a business school professor, I’d be … an entrepreneur.
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor? I hope my students understand that I lead programs and teach classes intending to change lives through education. Education shaped my career, and I am very fortunate that, through academia, I can travel worldwide, meet so many unique individuals, and give back to my students and society. I aim to connect with students after they finish my course and graduate. It is a privilege to observe students develop into intellectuals who can think critically, reason, and understand complex ideas during their studies at the Moore School. It is even more rewarding to watch them apply these skills in their careers after graduation and become successful leaders.
One word that describes my first-time teaching: Anxious. Teaching a class of 300 students was stressful, but I survived.
Here’s what I wish someone would’ve told me about being a business school professor: How much fun it is to educate the next-generation business leaders and how thankful students are for your insights and mentorship. I recently received emails from students who have just started their careers, expressing gratitude for their learning experiences. They conveyed appreciation for acquiring practical skills, such as various data visualization techniques, in my class. These moments are exceptionally gratifying.
Professor I most admire and why: Pursey Heugens. He is a real intellectual and very early in my career he taught me the importance of doing excellent research to enhance my teaching.
He also taught me how thankful we should be as professors to teach and research topics we are fascinated by.
I completely agree that teaching and research are complements, not substitutes. At a personal level, Pursey Heugens is my mentor, and I appreciate all the time he has invested toward my development as a scholar, teacher, and, later as an administrator. Everyone needs a mentor like Pursey. This was especially important at the beginning of my career. Thanks, Pursey.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students? I enjoy challenging them, especially their assumptions, and showing them the bigger picture. My goal is to create an interactive learning environment using a variety of activities to facilitate active learning, critical thinking, retention of information learned, and development of analytical skills among my students.
What is most challenging? My job never stops.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Someone who challenges me.
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Entitled.
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as … fair.
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies? Hiking, traveling, board games, and soccer.
How will you spend your summer? Traveling, doing research, and visiting corporate partners. I also plan to spend time with my family in the mountains and eat local produced food.
Favorite place(s) to vacation: Florence, Italy.
Favorite book(s): Economy and Society: An Outline of Interpretive Sociology by Max Weber.
What is currently your favorite movie and/or show and what is it about the film or program that you enjoy so much? The Truman Show. It challenges the idea of the true meaning of freedom. It is an incredible performance by Jim Carrey; the cast is at the top, and the concept is truly one of a kind.
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why? Bruce Springsteen. He is a fantastic performer with many great songs, including Born to Run, Thunder Road, and The River.
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this … I would focus heavily on global partnerships and topics like climate change and inclusive growth. We must study these two phenomena to understand how they will affect business and society. Global partnerships will help every business school increase its impact because it leads to enhancements in the depth and breadth of our plans. The world needs more integration, not less.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at … Justifying their value to society. As a corporate governance scholar, I am concerned that we do not focus enough on the collective efforts that go into value creation.
I’m grateful for … being born in the Netherlands. My mother is still cleaning houses for a living, and my father died at a young age. Still, I was fortunate to be born in this country because of the welfare and educational opportunities it provides to all its citizens.
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