Associate Professor at Vilnius University, Faculty of Economics & Business Administration EVAF.VU.LT (VU FEBA).
Teaching Cross-cultural Management and Negotiations subjects and guiding bachelor's and master's thesis for Business and Law, Management and Business Process Management programs.
Researching #SMEs #impactentrepreneuring #EaP #entrepreneuringecosystems #Sustainability, e.g. Horizon MSCA SE-funded MAKE-SENSE project (starts in 2027).
Coordinating the Lithuanian National Research Partnership of Euclid Network, VU EVAF and LiSVA in ESEM (European Social Enterprise Monitoring), 2026.
Consulting Diesis Network for the Horizon-funded DICES Project “Driving inclusive care: economic democracy and social economy”, 2025-2027.
Ecosystem-building efforts include Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Theory of Practice & Entrepreneurship as Practice, Socio-Eco-System Theory, MSME Entrepreneuring and Resilience-Sustainability nexus. ISM Uni. postdoctoral researcher for the "Building Sustainable Care Systems for Older People in the NordicBaltic Region" project funded under NordForsk „Sustainable health and social care systems for elderly“ call (SustainCare, 2026-2027).
Previously, I was ISM Uni. Jr. researcher with RCL funded “EntreLife” project on “Cross-cultural Comparison of Young Innovative Companies”, and with the ISM University-funded GUESSS Lithuania project, which studies Student Entrepreneurship.
Download my CV by clicking here.
Current Undertakings
Current Research Projects
Projects for Sustainability Entrepreneuring & Innovation, Socio-Eco-Systems-building
I am leading the Vilnius University FEBA team in their role as National Research Partner for the ESEM Lithuania (European Social Enterprise Monitor for Lithuania) 2026 edition.
I am part of the Vilnius University FEBA team at the Horizon MSCA SE-funded MAKE-SENSE project (start in January 2027) “Mobilising Action, Knowledge and Exchange through Seasonal, Ethical, Nutritious, Supportive and Enjoyable food systems” where I will be researching ethics and community-building in and around food waste reduction.
European Social
Enterprise Ecosystem
Currently, I am a Lithuanian national researcher for the European Social Enterprise Monitor (ESEM). The ESEM Lithuania 2026 report is forthcoming; in the meantime, read the ESEM Lithuania 2023-2024 Report. Launched in 2020 by the Euclid Network, the aim of ESEM is to close the current gap on social enterprise data to inform decision-makers in government, civil society and across entrepreneuring ecosystems.
In 2025, I served as a national expert for Lithuania of the EU Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP) mid-term review (MTR) at the invitation of Diesis Network.
Also, in 2023-2024, I was LiSVA social business expert @ #RE:IMPACT project “Improving the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Zemgale, Latvia, & Panevezys, Lithuania, regions” co-funded by Interreg Lat-Lit (search for project results on program website), LiSVA team member for #POSITIVEproject “Participatory Open Social Innovation Through Interlinking Valuable Ecosystems”: explore the project results, including the "Social Innovation Training Toolkit", and #BuySocialEuropeB2B consortium w/ EU’s Single Market Program & SAP funding.
Student Entrepreneuring
GUESSS stands for "Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students‘ Survey". It is one of the most significant entrepreneurship research projects in the world. The main research focus is on students’ entrepreneurial intentions and activities.
I also keenly observe "Lietuvos Jr. Achievement" and "VU Tech Hub" activities, initiatives and spaces for incubating, accelerating and propelling student entrepreneuring.
Past Endeavors
Impact-driven Entrepreneuring - under LMT sponsored project (2024-2026) Relationship between Founders’ Age and Business Performance in Young Innovative Companies: Cross-cultural Comparison.
Published PhD thesis (2024) titled
"Resilience practices by small businesses of vulnerable ecosystems of emerging economies: small business entrepreneuring during a disaster".
As important as the thesis itself was the translation of the findings and insights into MSME-friendly language, published, in 2021, as a manual: Manual para mejorar la resiliencia de las MiPyMEs regionales frente a desastres y crisis (co-funded and co-produced by Universidad de la Frontera, SERCOTEC La Araucanía, Chile).
Academic & Practitioner
Background
Teaching & Training Expertise
May 2010 - Present
Business, Legal & Sustainability Consulting
July 2001 - Present
Research & Consulting
September 2011 - Present