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Lis­beth Clausen

Associate Professor

Subjects
Organisation Circular economy Entrepreneurship Companies Japan

Primary research areas

Japan

My research on Japan business examines how globalization, cultural values, and communication practices shape corporate behavior and management in Japan. Through extensive fieldwork and collaboration with Tokyo-based firms, I explore how Japanese corporations balance international integration with traditional principles of harmony, hierarchy, and long-term orientation. This work highlights the evolving relationship between local practices and global business models.

Companies

I study Japanese and multinational companies operating in Japan, focusing on how they manage diversity, leadership, and internal communication. My analyses reveal how foreign subsidiaries adapt to Japan’s corporate culture and how Japanese firms respond to global pressures for inclusivity and innovation. By comparing Scandinavian and Japanese management approaches, I identify strategies for creating adaptive, collaborative, and sustainable organizations.

Entrepreneurship

My research on entrepreneurship centers on the role of women and emerging business leaders in seven countries on five continents. I investigate how founders - particularly women - build ventures that align with sustainability and social responsibility. Linking Japan’s “womenomics” agenda with global entrepreneurship trends, I have developed WE model to examine how social innovation and gender inclusion contribute to economic transformation.

Organization

In my organizational research, I focus on teamwork, communication, and leadership in multicultural and Japanese corporate environments. Drawing on case studies from multinational companies in Tokyo, I analyze how language, hierarchy, and cultural values shape collaboration and decision-making. My work provides insight into how organizations can strengthen trust, inclusion, and effective communication across cultures.

Circular Economy

My recent research connects organizational behavior and entrepreneurship with the circular economy. I study how Japanese companies and start-ups integrate sustainability, resource efficiency, and innovation into their business models. I am particularly interested in how women entrepreneurs and cross-sector partnerships drive Japan’s transition toward a more circular and sustainable economy.

Advancing understanding of organizational behaviour, global team dynamics, and entrepreneurial pathways toward sustainability.

I see opportunities in how people, organizations, and societies can grow by learning across cultures. My research on Japan explores how communication, collaboration, and innovation connect individuals and companies in an increasingly globalized world. I look for ways that technology, sustainability, and human understanding can bring us together - across languages, cultures, and sectors - to create meaningful change. 

In my work with Japanese and multinational companies, I study how organizations adapt to new forms of teamwork, leadership, and digital transformation while honoring local traditions of harmony and respect. I explore how diverse teams - when supported by inclusive communication - become sources of creativity and resilience. This research contributes to building organizations that are not only globally competitive but also socially responsible. 

Entrepreneurship is another lens through which I study change. I focus especially on women entrepreneurs in Japan who are reimagining business with purpose and sustainability. Their stories reveal how innovation can grow from collaboration and how inclusive entrepreneurship contributes to both economic renewal and social transformation. 

My current research connects these themes to the circular economy, where business, society, and the environment intersect. I am inspired by how companies and start-ups integrate circular thinking - reuse, resourcefulness, and regeneration - into their business models. I believe these efforts point toward a more sustainable and equitable future. 

The impact I seek is to empower organizations and individuals to act with cultural intelligence, ethical awareness, and a global mindset. My ambition is to build bridges - between countries, between people, and between ideas - so that research not only explains the world but also helps to improve it. 

Recent research projects

Women Entrepreneurs in the Circular Economy: A Global Comparative Study (2022–2025)

Led by Professor Lisbeth Clausen, Copenhagen Business School, this international research project brings together scholars from five continents to explore women’s entrepreneurship in a global and comparative perspective.

The project is based on ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, and observation of women entrepreneurs and their teams across diverse contexts - from Nordic welfare societies to indigenous, marginalized, and minority communities in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North America.

The study investigates how women founders build and grow their businesses: how they secure funding, develop business models, manage teams, promote brands, and balance work and family life. It highlights their motivation, background, and values, showing how they integrate sustainability, community prosperity, and cultural heritage into entrepreneurial practice.

The project’s unique contribution lies in its comparative perspective. Each country team contributes a case story - covering industries such as

upcycled food, eco-activism, apparel, indigenous crafts, ethno-tourism, education, tech, and recycling - providing nuanced insights into challenges and opportunities across different socio-economic and policy environments.

By analyzing these cases side by side, the study reveals both shared patterns and local differences in women’s entrepreneurship. It also assesses the role of government policies, education, and support programs, offering lessons for practitioners, policymakers, and educators.

The findings culminated in the monograph Women Entrepreneurs in the Circular Economy: Global Experiences (Emerald Publishing, 2025), which provides practical insights, comparative analysis, and lessons learned from real-world entrepreneurial journeys.



In the Emerald Podcast series, Lisbeth Clausen speaks to podcast host Francesca Lombardo about Wo­men En­tre­pren­eurs in the Cir­cu­lar Eco­nomy: Glob­al Ex­per­i­ences.
Read more and listen to the podcast (32 minutes)

Outside activities

I have no outside employments or activities