Napier, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Napier
Dr. Elizabeth Napier is an expert in corporate social responsibility (CSR), international business, and the environmental impacts of fast fashion. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo, where she makes significant contributions to international business, marketing focuding on international business ethics, global business strategy, and the internationalization of firms. She has published in prestigious journals such as Harvard Business Review, the Journal of International Business Studies, International Business Review, and Rutgers Business Review. Additionally, she has been a distinguished presenter at renowned conferences, including the Academy of International Business (AIB), the American Marketing Association (AMA), and the Consortium for International Marketing and Research (CIMAR).
“In an era marked by constant disruptions and change, firms must invest in sustainability in order to contribute to positive change and ethical growth.” - Elizabeth Napier, 2023
Napier, Elizabeth, Liu, Steven, Liu, Jingting. 2023. Adaptive Strength: Unveiling a Multilevel Dynamic Process Model for Organizational Resilience. Accepted upon September 5, 2023. Journal of Business Research.
Napier, E., Knight, G., Luo, Y., & Delios, A. 2023. Corporate social performance in international business. Journal of international business studies, 54(1), 61-77.
Cavusgil, Salih Tamer, van der Vegt, Sebastian, Napier, Elizabeth. 2022. Lessons in Longevity from an 88-Year-Old Zipper Company. Harvard Business Review, Online Publication.
Liu, S. Y., Napier, E., Runfola, A., & Cavusgil, S. T. (2020). MNE-NGO partnerships for sustainability and social responsibility in the global fast-fashion industry: A loose-coupling perspective. International Business Review, 29(5), 101736.
Napier, E., & Ku, S. 2020. One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Trousers: Food Waste for Sustainable Fashion. In 2020 AMA Summer Academic Conference (p. 720).
Dr. Napier embarked on her academic journey at Georgia State University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology in 2011, laying the foundation for a unique perspective that combines cultural understanding with business acumen. Her curiosity about the intersection of cultures and commerce led her to pursue a Master of International Business at Georgia State University in Atlanta, where she graduated in 2014. During this period, she honed her expertise in the complexities of international business, preparing for a career that would bridge the gap between diverse cultures and corporate strategies.
Dr. Napier pursued a Ph.D. at Georgia State University, specializing in Marketing and International Business. She dove deep into the investigation of multinational firms, focusing on their interaction with local economies and environments. She completed her Ph.D. in 2019.
While completing her graduate degrees, Dr. Napier held several positions in the Atlanta area, including as Business and Planning Analyst for Trees Atlanta and Marketing Research Analyst for SmartUp in 2015. In 2017, Dr. Napier was a Visiting Scholar at George Washington University.
After completing her doctorate in 2019, Dr. Napier became Assistant Professor at The University of Toledo. Dr. Napier’s research centers around sustainability in the context of multinational firms, their interaction with stakeholders, and their effect on the communities in which they operate. Through her research, she aims to bring awareness to the accountability and responsibility firms have to operate ethically and, in turn, make the world a better place.
Dr. Napier’s interdisciplinary background, encompassing Anthropology, International Business, and Marketing, gives her a unique vantage point to comprehend the motivations that drive individuals and corporations. Her specific interest lies in exploring the performance of multinational firms, the dynamics of unique partnerships, and their implications for the host country’s environmental and financial resources.
One of Dr. Napier’s notable contributions is her work on how multinational firms utilize explicit and tacit knowledge to foster employee innovation and promote environmental sustainability. Her research aims to build robust theoretical frameworks that advance academic understanding and offer practical insights for businesses seeking to navigate the complex global landscape.
Dr. Napier’s research has been published in prestigious journals such as Harvard Business Review, the Journal of International Business Studies, International Business Review, and Rutgers Business Review. Additionally, she has been a distinguished presenter at renowned conferences, including the Academy of International Business (AIB), the American Marketing Association (AMA), and the Consortium for International Marketing and Research (CIMAR).
She teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses in international marketing and international business. She regularly presents at symposiums to share her corporate social responsibility and sustainability knowledge. Dr. Napier examines environmental sustainability innovations, including those in the fashion industry. Several of her recent papers examine the environmental harm caused by the fast fashion industry and how biomimicry can support a green fashion industry.
Dr. Napier is a trailblazing academic whose commitment to understanding the multifaceted relationships between multinational firms and their environments has left an indelible mark on marketing and international business.
Dr. Napier believes that empowerment starts in the classroom. Her passion for education surpasses her scholarly pursuit; she seeks to inspire others on their academic journeys. Dr. Napier mentors students by guiding them and coauthoring with them when the opportunity arises. She believes that these relationships create a ripple effect to promote positive global change and contribute to society’s betterment as a transformative force.
“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. I was told I would never go to college, now I have found myself in a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and sharing that with others. No path is linear, and there will be ups and downs and curves along the way. Find something that ignites the fire of passion in you. Our world is so beautiful, dynamic, and unique; find your ripple, and let it grow” (2023).
Elizabeth Napier. Home [LinkedIn Page]. LinkedIn. Retrieved November 14, 2023 from https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-napier-35a84673/ https://www.izzynapier.com/
Survey and interviews conducted by Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Sustainability Initiative staff. 2022-2023. Yale University-School of the Environment. New Haven, Connecticut.