Inaugural Lecture by Prof. Dr. Pauline Reineckes: Strategic Entrepreneurship for Societal Transformation

2026-06-09

Anyone who happened to glance into Lecture Hall 3 in the early evening of June 2 might have wondered: Is there a public viewing of the show “Die Höhle des Löwen” taking place here? On the contrary – before an audience consisting of family, friends, colleagues, peers, co-authors, and members of the School of Management & Technology, Prof. Dr. Pauline Reinecke delivered her inaugural lecture on the topic of strategic entrepreneurship as a driver of social transformation.

But what was the significance of those scenes from the TV show in question? In them, young entrepreneurs were shown – by predominantly older white men – that they had no interest in their FemTech products. It was hard to watch – but it was a well-chosen, relatable example that illustrated how storytelling can be used to develop a narrative that generates a response from others, such as society at large, and can be leveraged.

From founding o diffusion to accountability: in her presentation of her four studies on strategic entrepreneurship, Pauline Reinecke not only highlighted how she, as a professor, understands strategic entrepreneurship and intends to continue researching it—namely, identifying new opportunities amid social change and building sustainable competitive advantages—but also how strategic entrepreneurship itself can contribute to social transformation.

From the “FemTech” hot market and investors’ hesitation, to the role conflict faced by hybrid entrepreneurs, the conflicting interests of social entrepreneurs, and the negotiation of social values on platforms, Pauline Reinicke successfully explained the challenges faced by strategic entrepreneurship as well as the strategies employed in this context.

It was an informative evening that provided an excellent overview of Pauline Reinecke’s research and offered a glimpse into what lies ahead. Vice President Prof. Dr. Markus Reihlen and Dean of the M&T Faculty Prof. Dr. Paul Drews made it clear right from the start that they were delighted to have Pauline Reinecke fill the professorship and help shape its direction. We wish her every success!