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Prof. Dr. Michael Gielnik

21335 Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, C6.408
Fon +49.4131.677-2105, michael.gielnik@leuphana.de
Professor, Professorship of Psychology, in particular Entrepreneurship

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Vita

Prof. Dr. Michael M. Gielnik is Professor of Psychology, in particular Entrepreneurship, at the Institute of Management and Organization (since 2014). He studied psychology at Justus Liebig University Giessen and received his doctorate from Leuphana University Lüneburg. During his academic career, he completed research stays at the University of the Western Cape (Cape Town, South Africa) and the University of Sydney (Australia) and he was a Visiting Senior Fellow at the National University of Singapore Business School (Singapore).

Michael Gielnik's research interests are entrepreneurship, in particular action-oriented entrepreneurship training, the entrepreneurial process, and sustainable entrepreneurial behavior. A special interest is entrepreneurship in developing countries. He has supervised and implemented a variety of research and practice projects in different countries in Africa and Asia, including "STEP - Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion". His research has been published in scholarly journals such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Academy of Management Journal, Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, Journal of Business Venturing, and Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice.

Professional and Academic Experience

  • since 02/2022: Professor (W3) of Psychology, in particular Entrepreneurship, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Germany
  • 10/2020-02/2021: Parental leave
  • 01/2020-12/2022: Associate Editor Journal of Business Venturing (Field Editor Psychology and Entrepreneurship)
  • 03/2015-01/2022: Professor (W2) of HR development, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Germany
  • 02/2014-02/2015: Junior professor (W1) of HR development, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Germany
  • 10/2010-12/2013: Visiting Research Fellow, promoted to Visiting Senior Fellow, NUS Business School, Singapore, Department of Management and Organization
  • 05/2010-09/2010 Research Associate, Leuphana, Institute for Enterprise Development
  • 10/2006-04/2010: Research Associate, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany, Department of Industrial and Organizational Psychology
  • 11/2005-09/2006: Marketing Research Executive, Research International GmbH & Co.KG, Germany

Education

  • 09/2010 Doctor of Philosophy (summa cum laude), Leuphana: "Opportunity Identification and Exploitation: Psychological Factors for Start-up and Success in Entrepreneurship" (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Michael Frese), Finalist of the 2011 Academy of Management NFIB Dissertation Award of the Entrepreneurship Department
  • 10/2005 Diploma in Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Diploma Thesis: "The Relationship of Learning Opportunities and Subsequent Learning Behavior to Learning Outcomes and Success: A Study among South African Entrepreneurs" (Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Michael Frese)

Review Boards

  • Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice

Teaching

Work and Organizational Psychology

Entrepreneurship

Research Interests

His research interests are entrepreneurship, in particular action-based entrepreneurship trainings, the entrepreneurial process, and sustainable entrepreneurial behavior. He has taken a special interest in entrepreneurship in developing countries. He has conducted several research and practice projects in different countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. He has published his research in scientific journals, such as Journal of Applied Psychology, Academy of Management Journal, Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, Journal of Business Venturing, and Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice.

Projects

  1. Embracing Transformation: Companies as Drivers of Sustainability Transformations
    Stefan Schaltegger (Project manager, academic) , Hannah Trittin-Ulbrich (Project manager, academic) , Jacob Hörisch (Project manager, academic) , Michael Gielnik (Project manager, academic) , Sara Dahlman (Coordination) , Laura Christina Hetzler (Project staff)
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    Project: Research

  2. Sustainable Entrepreneurship Courses for Under- and Postgraduate Students
    Michael Gielnik (Project manager, academic) , Paul Jasper Herrmann (Project staff) , Janina Peschmann (Project staff)
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    Project: Practical Project

  3. DAAD SDG-Partnerschaften 2024-2027
    Michael Gielnik (Project manager, academic)
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    Project: Practical Project

  4. International Joint Master of Research in Work and Organizational Psychology (2023-2027)
    Michael Gielnik (Project manager, academic) , Janina Peschmann (Project staff)
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    Project: Teaching

  5. Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion (STEP) V Südafrika 2022-24
    Michael Gielnik (Project manager, academic) , Carina Bohlayer (Project staff)
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    Project: Practical Project

View all projects

Publications

Books and anthologies

  1. The Psychology of Entrepreneurship: New Perspectives
    Michael Gielnik (Editor) , Melissa S. Cardon (Editor) , Michael Frese (Editor) , 2021 1 ed. New York , 424 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologies › Book › Research

View all publications

Journal contributions

  1. Pathways of entrepreneurial passion: An exploratory examination of the theory of entrepreneurial passion with meta-analytical structural equation modeling
    Vanessa Naumann (Author) , Holger Steinmetz (Author) , Slawa Tomin (Author) , Michael Gielnik (Author) , Sven Lindberg (Author) , 01.06.2026 , in: Applied Psychology, 75, 3 , 33 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  2. Maintaining the impact of action-oriented entrepreneurship training: Extending the path-centric account
    Michael Gielnik (Author) , Matthias Spitzmuller (Author) , Carina Bohlayer (Author) , Fokko-Jelto Eller (Author) , 01.06.2026 , in: Applied Psychology, 75, 3 , 38 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  3. Unmasking entrepreneurial life satisfaction: a deeper look at self-reported well-being
    Maximilian Weldert (Author) , Henrik Heinemann (Author) , Michael Gielnik (Author) , Philipp Schäpers (Author) , 28.04.2026 , in: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research, 32, 5 , p. 1355-1375 , 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  4. Stability matters: A dynamic process view on self-efficacy in training transfer.
    Michael Gielnik (Author) , Jakob Weers (Author) , 01.04.2026 , in: Journal of Applied Psychology, 111, 4 , p. 534-548 , 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

  5. Raging fire or regulated flames? Why entrepreneurs´passion stays balanced or becomes excessive
    Mirjam Streeb (Author) , Michael Gielnik (Author) , Matthias Baum (Author) , Mayleen Luisa Schack (Author) , 01.01.2026 , in: Human Relations

    Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review

View all publications

Contributions to collected editions/anthologies

  1. Sustainability entrepreneurship: A psychological perspective
    Rebecca Namatovu-Dawa (Author) , Laura Venz (Author) , Michael Gielnik (Author) , 01.01.2026

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research › peer-review

  2. Principles of Action in Entrepreneurship Education and Training for Marginalized Entrepreneurs: Inductive Propositions from Personal Initiative Training
    Alex Glosenberg (Author) , Michael Gielnik (Author) , Lemayon Lemilia Melyoki (Author) , Amanobea Boateng (Author) , 02.05.2025 , p. 189-205 , 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research › peer-review

  3. Entrepreneurship
    Michael Gielnik (Author) , Hannes Zacher (Author) , 01.01.2023 Stuttgart , p. 360-376 , 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research › peer-review

  4. Entrepreneurship as a Tool to Tackle Graduate Youth Unemployment in Developing Economies: The Role of Action-Oriented Entrepreneurship Training
    Arobindu Dash (Author) , Michael Gielnik (Author) , 01.04.2022 , p. 1-24 , 24 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research › peer-review

  5. Evidence-Based Entrepreneurship: An Extended Approach
    Andreas Jörg Rauch (Author) , Michael Gielnik (Author) , 01.01.2021 London , p. 323-339 , 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Chapter › Research

View all publications

Impact

  1. STEP – Student Training for Entrepreneurial Promotion has a wide-ranging impact
    Michael Frese , Michael Gielnik , Janina Peschmann , Paul Jasper Herrmann

    Impact: Academic Impact, Economic Impact, Educational Impact, Environmental Impact, Health and Quality of Life Impact

View all impacts

Activities

  1. Exploring the use of podcasts as entrepreneurship training intervention
    Janina Peschmann (Speaker) , Michael Gielnik (Coauthor)

    Activity: Conference Presentations › Research

  2. New developments in personal initiative (PI) training for entrepreneurs inside and outside of the African continent (PDW)
    Artemisia Bogdou (Speaker) , Tabea Brüning (Speaker) , Elisabeth Erning (Speaker) , Michael Frese (Speaker) , Michael Gielnik (Coauthor) , Alexander Glossenberg (Speaker) , Mona Hafner (Speaker) , Ines Meyer (Speaker) , Benjamin Schwarweit (Speaker)
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    Activity: Conference Presentations › Research

  3. The impact of action-oriented entrepreneurship training on employment, income, and business performance among young adults
    Janina Peschmann (Speaker) , Michael Gielnik (Coauthor) , Michael Frese (Coauthor) , Kim Marie Bischoff (Coauthor)

    Activity: Conference Presentations › Research

  4. How harmonious and obsessive passion lead to entrepreneurial success: Unfolding the underlying process on a state level.
    Mirjam Streeb (Speaker) , Sonja Franzke (Speaker) , Matthias Baum (Speaker) , Michael Gielnik (Speaker)
    →

    Activity: Conference Presentations › Research

View all activities

Prizes

  1. Impact Award 2024
    (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) ,

    Prize: Leuphana internal Prize, Scholaships, distinctions, appointments › Transfer

  2. FGF Sustainable Entrepreneurship Research Award 2014
    (Recipient) ,

    Prize: external Prizes, scholarships, distinctions, appointments › Research

  3. Nominated for the Best Paper Award of the EAWOP Congress 2013
    (Recipient) ,

    Prize: external Prizes, scholarships, distinctions, appointments › Research

  4. Transfer Award der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
    (Recipient) ,

    Prize: Leuphana internal Prize, Scholaships, distinctions, appointments › Transfer

  5. Finalist of the 2011 Academy of Management NFIB Dissertation Award of the Entrepreneurship Division
    (Recipient) ,

    Prize: external Prizes, scholarships, distinctions, appointments › Research

View all prizes

Courses

Application of Psychology in Society - Work A
Michael Gielnik
In this course, the students will learn about two entrepreneurship training programs, which provide participants skills and knowledge in entrepreneurship. The two training programs are the STEP training (www.step-training.com) and the PI training (www.pi-training.org). The STEP training provides students with skills and knowledge to start an entrepreneurial career. The PI training provides existing entrepreneurs with skills and knowledge to show more personal initiative and improve their existing businesses. Both trainings have been implemented in several countries with several thousand participants. In the course, the students will form teams and work on a specific project during the course. They will discuss, develop, and test ideas to improve and extend the training programs according to the framework for developing training programs. The students will perform a needs analysis, develop an intervention, design an evaluation study, implement the training, and present the results.
Next appointment:
Friday, 2026-10-16 at 12:00
Room: C 12.101 Seminarraum
Application of Psychology in Society - Work B
Michael Gielnik
In this course, the students will learn about two entrepreneurship training programs, which provide participants skills and knowledge in entrepreneurship. The two training programs are the STEP training (www.step-training.com) and the PI training (www.pi-training.org). The STEP training provides students with skills and knowledge to start an entrepreneurial career. The PI training provides existing entrepreneurs with skills and knowledge to show more personal initiative and improve their existing businesses. Both trainings have been implemented in several countries with several thousand participants. In the course, the students will form teams and work on a specific project during the course. They will discuss, develop, and test ideas to improve and extend the training programs according to the framework for developing training programs. The students will perform a needs analysis, develop an intervention, design an evaluation study, implement the training, and present the results.
Next appointment:
Friday, 2026-10-16 at 13:00
Room: C 12.101 Seminarraum
Application of Psychology in Society - Work C
Michael Gielnik
In this course, the students will learn about two entrepreneurship training programs, which provide participants skills and knowledge in entrepreneurship. The two training programs are the STEP training (www.step-training.com) and the PI training (www.pi-training.org). The STEP training provides students with skills and knowledge to start an entrepreneurial career. The PI training provides existing entrepreneurs with skills and knowledge to show more personal initiative and improve their existing businesses. Both trainings have been implemented in several countries with several thousand participants. In the course, the students will form teams and work on a specific project during the course. They will discuss, develop, and test ideas to improve and extend the training programs according to the framework for developing training programs. The students will perform a needs analysis, develop an intervention, design an evaluation study, implement the training, and present the results.
Next appointment:
Friday, 2026-10-16 at 14:00
Room: C 12.101 Seminarraum
Empirical Research Project: Psychology of Entrepreneurship
Michael Gielnik
In this empirical research project, the students design and implement a research project in the field of the psychology of entrepreneurship. The course has five parts: (1) discussing relevant theories in the field of psychology of entrepreneurship, (2) identifying a research gap and formulating a research question, (3) designing and implementing a quantitative study, (4) analyzing the data based statistical procedures, and (5) writing a research paper.
Next appointment:
Wednesday, 2026-10-14 at 10:15
Room: C 6.316 Seminarraum
Entrepreneurial Psychology
Michael Gielnik
The course deals with entrepreneurship from a psychological perspective. Entrepreneurship is a process consisting of (1) identifying opportunities, (2) developing opportunities, and (3) exploiting opportunities. A key success factor in entrepreneurship is action by the individual entrepreneur. The course therefore covers psychological theories and topics to understand successful actions along the phases of the entrepreneurial process. Specifically, the course covers the topics of personal initiative, human capital (prior knowledge and creativity), uncertainty and ambiguity reduction, bricolage, effectuation, action planning, and financial bootstrapping. These topics are linked to the concepts of the business model and the lean startup approach.
Next appointment:
Thursday, 2026-10-15 at 10:15
Room: C 40.256 Hybridraum
Forum for Bachelor Thesis I Quantitative Research Methods
Michael Gielnik
Next appointment:
Wednesday, 2026-10-14 at 12:15
Room: C 7.320 Seminarraum
Masters forum for quantitative master's theses
Michael Gielnik
Next appointment:
Thursday, 2026-10-15 at 12:15
Room: C 6.320 Seminarraum