Prof. Dr. Melanie Richards

Academic Career and Research Areas

Melanie Richards' research focuses on how family firms’ unique culture affects organisational decision-making and outcomes. Moreover, Melanie Richards’ work seeks to better understand the entrepreneurial and social activities of business families. Thereby her research investigates the families’ financial and non-financial goals, their values and socio-emotional wealth. Her research also analyses family philanthropy and impact investing, which constitute important practical phenomena, yet remain under-theorized in academia.

Melanie Richards is Associate Professor at the TUM School of Management since March 2022. She holds the Chair for Family Business Culture and Ownership, endowed by the EQUA foundation and located at the Munich Campus. Prior to joining the TUM School of Management, Melanie Richards was Associate Professor at the University of Bath. She also worked for the University of Bristol and visited Bayes Business School in London after receiving her PhD in Management from the University of St. Gallen in September 2015.

Awards

• Family Business Review - Excellent Reviewer Award (2022)
• IFERA Best Paper Award (2021)
• Family Business Review (FBR) Best Article Honorable Mention (2020)
• The Academy of Management, Best Paper Proceedings (ENT) (2014)
• Konferenz der deutschsprachigen Forschungszentren und Institute für Familienunternehmen, Best Paper Award (2014)