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Prof. Dr. Steffen Farny

21335 Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, C6.134
Fon +49.4131.677-2239, steffen.farny@leuphana.de
Professor, Professorship of Business Administration, in particular Social & Sustainable Entrepreneurship
Associated member, Leuphana Center for Organization & Social Transformation

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Vita

Steffen Farny is Professor for Business Administration, in particular Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship at the School of Management and Technology at the Leuphana University Luneburg. In his research, Steffen focuses connects sustainability and entrepreneurship theories to develop a better understanding of (1) entrepreneurship and disruptions (such as natural disasters, climate change and biodiversity loss), and (2) entrepreneurship and sustainability transformations. In his research he predominantly applies a variety of qualitative research methods to study practices, affect and institutional processes. In addition, Steffen is active in the development of challenge-based entrepreneurship education.

 

Vita:

> since 04/2024 Professor for Business Administration, in particulat Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship, School of Management and Technology, Leuphana University Luneburg

> 08-12/2024 Visiting Professor, Aalto School of Business, Finland

> 2020-2024 Assistant Professor for International Social and Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Center for Sustainability Management, Leuphana University Luneburg.

> 2017-2020 Post-Doctoral Reserach Fellow in Entrepreneurship, Department of Management Studies, Aalto University, Finland.

> 04-05/2019 Visiting Researcher, Mendoza School of Business, University of Notre Dame, US.

> 2016 Project Researcher, Faculty of Business Studies, University of Vaasa, Finland.

> 2012-2016 Research Assistant in Entrepreneurship, Department of Management Studies, Aalto University, Finland.

 

Selected Publications:

Farny, S., Kibler, E. & Down, S. (2019). Collective Emotions in Institutional Creation Work, Academy of Management Journal, 62 (3), 765-799.

Farny, S, Kibler, E., Hai, S. & Landoni, P. (2019), Volunteer Retention in Prosocial Venturing: The Role of Emotional Connectivity, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, 43 (6), 1094–1123.

Farny, S., Frederiksen, S.H., Hannibal, M. & Jones, S. (2016). A CULTure of Entrepreneurship Education, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 28 (7-8), 514-535.

Publications

Journal contributions

  1. Regenerative Development Goals should shape the post-2030 sustainability agenda
    Steffen Farny (Author) , Joern Fischer (Author) , Vânia G. Zuin (Author) , David Abson (Author) , Caitlin McElroy (Author) , 01.09.2026 , in: PLOS Sustainability and Transformation, 5, 9 , 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research › peer-review

  2. Mainstreaming regenerative dynamics for sustainability
    Joern Fischer (Author) , Steffen Farny (Author) , David Abson (Author) , Vânia G. Zuin (Author) , Maria Salisch (Author) , Stefan Schaltegger (Author) , Berta Martín-López (Author) , Vicky Temperton (Author) , Klaus Kümmerer (Author) , 01.08.2024 , in: Nature Sustainability, 7, 8 , p. 964–972 , 9 p.

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

  3. Volunteer Retention in Prosocial Venturing: The Role of Emotional Connectivity
    Steffen Farny (Author) , Ewald Kibler (Author) , Solange Hai (Author) , Paolo Landoni (Author) , 01.11.2019 , in: Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 43, 6 , p. 1094-1123 , 30 p.

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

  4. Collective emotions in institutional creation work
    Steffen Farny (Author) , Ewald Kibler (Author) , Simon Down (Author) , 01.06.2019 , in: Academy of Management Journal, 62, 3 , p. 765-799 , 35 p.

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

View all publications

Impact

Prizes

  1. Transfer- und Impact Award der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
    (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) ,

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

  2. Impactpreis der Fakultät Management und Technologie 2025
    (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) (Recipient) ,

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

  3. Aalto University Dissertation Award 2018
    (Recipient) ,

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

View all prizes

Courses

Qualitative Research Methods – Tutorial 1
Steffen Farny
The course will be taught in two different modes in which the tutorials fulfill distinct tasks. When selecting a tutorial, please be aware that the tutorials differ in the thematic focus of the research projects that you will undertake. This particular tutorial will address the topic of "Regenerative Entrepreneurship."

Mode 1 – October 16th to December 14th
Mode 1 takes place during the first half of the semester. Please note that it is of utmost importance to prepare your attendance of the tutorials. Details will be provided in the first tutorial session. Mode 1 concludes with a test of your knowledge of the course subjects covered in lectures 1 to 12.

Mode 2 – December 15th to March 15th
Mode 2 stretches throughout the second half of the semester; it kicks off with the tutorial session on December 14th and concludes with the submission of your research reports. During mode 2, you apply your knowledge of qualitative research methods by conducting your own research projects in groups. The tutorial sessions in this mode have two objectives. First, we will discuss particular topics that will help you navigate the process of your research projects. Second, we will use the tutorials to discuss your questions and give collective feedback on your emerging research projects. Be advised that hearing the feedback both on your own as well as on others’ projects is absolutely necessary to develop a research project that meets our expectations.

Please make sure to carefully read through the syllabus as it entails key information about the structure of this course.
Next appointment:
Monday, 2026-11-16 at 08:15
Room: C 40.153 Seminarraum
Qualitative Research Methods – Tutorial 3
Steffen Farny
The course will be taught in two different modes in which the tutorials fulfill distinct tasks. When selecting a tutorial, please be aware that the tutorials differ in the thematic focus of the research projects that you will undertake. This particular tutorial will address the topic of "Regenerative Entrepreneurship."

Mode 1 – October 16th to December 14th
Mode 1 takes place during the first half of the semester. Please note that it is of utmost importance to prepare your attendance of the tutorials. Details will be provided in the first tutorial session. Mode 1 concludes with a test of your knowledge of the course subjects covered in lectures 1 to 12.

Mode 2 – December 15th to March 15th
Mode 2 stretches throughout the second half of the semester; it kicks off with the tutorial session on December 14th and concludes with the submission of your research reports. During mode 2, you apply your knowledge of qualitative research methods by conducting your own research projects in groups. The tutorial sessions in this mode have two objectives. First, we will discuss particular topics that will help you navigate the process of your research projects. Second, we will use the tutorials to discuss your questions and give collective feedback on your emerging research projects. Be advised that hearing the feedback both on your own as well as on others’ projects is absolutely necessary to develop a research project that meets our expectations.

Please make sure to carefully read through the syllabus as it entails key information about the structure of this course.
Next appointment:
Monday, 2026-11-16 at 12:15
Room: C 40.152 Seminarraum
1st Phase SoSe 27: Farny - Social Entrepreneurship
Steffen Farny
Prof. Farny primarily supervises theses that employ qualitative research designs, with a strong focus on Grounded Theory, Case Study, and Ethnographic Approaches. His academic expertise lies in the fields of social and sustainable entrepreneurship, with a particular interest in topics such as:
• New practices and processes in sustainable entrepreneurship
• Alternative forms of organizing (e.g., community entrepreneurship)
• Holistic and net-positive sustainability orientations, especially regeneration and regenerative entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurship and resilience in response to shocks and disruptions
• Outcomes, outputs, and impacts of entrepreneurial practices (e.g. impact measurement)
• The interrelationship between the natural environment and entrepreneurship (“organizing with nature”)
Exemplary theses supervised by Prof. Farny have investigated themes such as regenerative business models in rural communities, ethnographic studies of community-driven enterprises, and case studies exploring entrepreneurial responses to environmental crises. Theoretical approaches often draw from institutional theory, practice theory, systems thinking, and socio-ecological perspectives.

Methodological Approaches
The theses under Prof. Farny’s supervision are typically qualitative in nature, emphasizing interpretive and exploratory methodologies. Common approaches include:
• Grounded Theory for theory development based on empirical data
• Case Study Research to explore complex, real-life entrepreneurial contexts
• Ethnographic Designs to provide in-depth, contextual understanding of entrepreneurial practices
In some cases, conceptual work and theoretical essays may also be supervised, particularly when aiming to develop or critically interrogate frameworks within the domain of sustainable entrepreneurship.

Supervision Process
Prospective thesis students are expected to initiate contact via a short email outlining:
(a) the research phenomenon,
(b) the research question
(c) the intended research design.
This is followed by a brief (virtual) meeting to discuss the feasibility and alignment of the topic. Students then prepare a 3–5 page exposé, which serves as the foundation for the research project. Subsequent supervision meetings are arranged on a needs-based schedule, ensuring tailored support throughout the thesis process.
Next appointment:
Lectures for this semester ended.
Be REAL: How Triple Wellbeing helps Redesign Progress
Steffen Farny, Laura Haverkamp
If our goal is to actively shape livable futures on a living planet, we need to revisit the measures of success that have so far mainly guided us. But not only that: once we dive into systems change approaches, we soon see how strong – and how often overlooked – the interconnectedness of mindset and action, of inner and outer change, really is. This is why in this course we will engage with the concept of triple wellbeing – the wellbeing of self, of community, and of the living planet – as a means to redesign our understanding of progress. Together, we will examine existing frameworks, explore their application and potential in practice, and translate these insights into our own transformation scenarios. Practice-based input from social entrepreneurship, regenerative economy, and philanthropy links theory to lived experience; reflective exercises support both the rational and emotional integration of what is learned.
Next appointment:
Friday, 2026-11-27 at 10:00
Room: C 40.530 Seminarraum
How to co-create impactful research
Steffen Farny, Theres Konrad
Most PhD programs equip students with in-depth theoretical and methodological knowledge to better grasp “how the world currently is” (system knowledge) and “how it ought to be” (target knowledge) on a topic under investigation. However, most PhD students typically lack an understanding of transformation knowledge to also be able to act as change agents and implement their knowledge in transforming the state of the word towards a desirable future, i.e. have societal impact. To address this gap in our current PhD education at Leuphana University, the course will embark on a transformative learning journey that allows us to experience the co-creation of solution-oriented knowledge together with different stakeholders.

On the one hand, the course will bring diverse audiences and perspective together, offering valuable insights on impact (co-)creation. On the other hand, the course offers participants a safe learning environment to experiment with solution-oriented knowledge translation.

The course is split into 3 parts: (1) An introductory session at Leuphana clarifies the course design, roles and responsibilities; (2) a 1-week field trip to interesting places in Northern Europe (Stockholm, Helsinki) offers an embodied learning experience on co-creating impact, by learning from and engaging with best-practice examples; (3) participating students present their “impact stories and/or artefacts” during a Transformation Lab event in the summer semester on campus.

This pedagogical design promotes students (1) gaining a deeper understanding on different types of knowledge and their relevance in societal transformation; (2) reflecting on the authority of science in transformative processes; and (3) learning to (co-)create societal impact in their own research.

Insights into the first course of this kind can be found on the Linkedin page of the "Regenerative Entrepreneurial Action Lab" (REAL).


To apply for a spot in this unique course you are asked to submit a motivation letter (max 2 pages) responding to the following questions:

1. Why do you pursue a PhD and what is your topic?

2. How would your PhD benefit from this course?

3. What do you envision to contribute to the co-creative learning experience?



Please send your motivation letter (in pdf format, named Surname_Name_ML) to the following email addresses: steffen.farny@leuphana.de and theres.konrad@leuphana.de latest by October 21st 2026 at noon.

Shortlisted candidates will be informed soon after. Note that the dates are still subject to slight modification. Candidates still need to confirm their active participation after acceptance.
Next appointment:
Tuesday, 2026-12-08 at 16:00
Room: C 40.165 Seminarraum
Qualitative Research Methods
Steffen Farny, Anna Stöber
This course offers students a more advanced introduction to qualitative research methods. Qualitative research is a research strategy that emphasizes large bodies of unstructured data (textual, graphical, audio, and video data) that cannot be meaningfully analyzed by formal, statistical approaches. Students will learn how to set up a qualitative research project and will be informed about different qualitative research approaches such as case study research, grounded theory, ethnography or design science. The course gives students the opportunity to learn how to construct a research question, craft a qualitative research design, collect and rigorously analyze data with the help of qualitative data analysis methodologies and procedures, as well as evaluating the quality of qualitative research.

Please make sure to carefully read through the syllabus as it entails key information about the structure of this course. Also, make sure to register for the Moodle course (tab: Onlinelehre) where you can find the lecture videos and further important course materials.
Next appointment:
Monday, 2026-12-14 at 10:00
Room: C 40.501 Seminarraum
Think REAL: Developing Inclusive Entrepreneurial Solutions
Steffen Farny, Theres Konrad, Svenja Rehwinkel
How can organizations create meaningful social impact while staying financially sustainable?

This seminar dives into the fascinating world of social enterprises and hybrid organizations - businesses that blend profit and purpose to tackle urgent social and environmental challenges.

Through real-world cases like HEYHO, a muesli company that provides jobs for individuals with lived experiences (such as incarceration, homelessness, mental health disabilities and more), we will explore how organizations successfully combine market logic with mission-driven goals. Students will gain insights into the unique opportunities and challenges of social enterprises and hybrid organizations.

In this interactive course, we will not only study inspiring examples but also design innovative micro-trainings to apply these lessons in practice, thus equipping yourself with tools to foster positive change in future organizations.

If you’re interested in sustainability and new ways of doing business, this seminar will challenge and inspire you.
Next appointment:
Wednesday, 2026-11-25 at 10:15
Room: C 12.001 Seminarraum