Susan Akinwalere

Dr Susan Akinwalere

Senior Lecturer in Leadership & Management

Senior Lecturer

Leadership and Strategy, Centre of Innovation, Management & Enterprise (CIME)

Department of Strategy and Leadership , Royal Docks School of Business and Law

Dr Susan Akinwalere is a Senior Lecturer in Business and Management, focusing on strategy and leadership, with over 10 years’ experience in academia and diverse international and reputable institutions. She is trained as a theoretical business researcher, especially in the area of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and guided by formal, rigorous methodologies to broaden her knowledge in FDI. Her principal interest in FDI arises from the belief that it provides the opportunity to contribute to social and economic change. 

Dr Akinwalere has published peer-reviewed journal articles in top-tier journals and has presented research papers at conferences. She is convinced that the challenges of the business environment are best addressed from as wide a variety of angles as possible. As a result, she seeks to share and examine the understanding she gains from academic research by thoroughly exploring the questions and challenges that arise at the intersection of research and the classroom at any given opportunity. 

Dr Akinwalere is a PhD holder, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an editor and reviewer for reputable journals.

Qualifications

  • PhD in Business and Management (2017)
  • MSc in International Investment and Finance (2013)
  • BSc in Banking and Finance (2005)
  • Diploma in Banking and Finance (2001)
  • CMBE (Certified Management & Business Educator) Achieved
  • FHEA Membership Achieved, (FHEA)
  • BAM Membership (Renewed annually)

Areas Of Interest

My research interests include:

  • Foreign direct investment with a focus on the activities of MNEs in the International business environment particularly in developing economies
  • Leadership and Management impact on organisational behaviour
  • The impact of Artificial Intelligence on an organisation’s leadership and management
Susan Akinwalere

OVERVIEW

My principal interest in studying a business course arose from the belief that it provides the opportunity to contribute to business, social and economic change. The demand for management professionals in almost every sector of human activity indicates the important role business management plays in our day-to-day activities. As a result of this, I have been driven by a basic question in particular: how does business management change the landscape of the economy? Trained as a theoretical business researcher, I approach this question guided by formal, rigorous methodologies to broaden my knowledge in the field of business and management.

My PhD explored the broad area of business and management. In this research work, I examined ‘the empirical analysis of the determinants of Nigeria’s inward foreign direct investment (FDI) flows; using cointegration analysis’, which I began in 2014 at Oxford Brookes University, and completed in September 2017 (under three years). The chosen case study centred around Nigeria and was tailored towards the Public Sector, making recommendations that served as a blueprint for Nigerian policymakers. My recent research publication and my PhD research work have offered a blueprint for policymakers in Nigeria to begin to look at ways to improve Foreign Direct Investment in Nigeria. The research data used were quantitative data, sourced from international and highly reputable organisations such as the IMF, OECD, World Bank, etc.

Below are the key features of my research:

Development of a model to assess the key factors determining inward foreign direct investment flows in Nigeria.
An extensive review of past literature, both theoretical and empirical, on the key determinant factors affecting Nigeria’s inward FDI.
Choosing the most suitable econometric technique to undertake the empirical analysis using a state-of-the-art cointegration technique (the ARDL bounds testing approach to cointegration).
Contribution to knowledge in identifying the main findings and drawing out key policy implications.
As an experienced lecturer, inspirational tutor, a meticulous examiner and supervisor, I have a knack for recognising and encouraging individual growth, which is an approach that guides me in my academic career. 

MOST RECENT RESEARCH

Most recent research

Conference papers

  • Akinwalere, S., & Chang, K. (2023). Foreign direct investment (FDI) and its characteristics in Nigeria. British Academy of Management Conference. Track: International Business and International Management (No. 52). University of Sussex, Brighton, UK (1-6 September 2023).
  • Akinwalere, S., & Chang, K. (2024). Strengthening economic cooperation: Cooperative economics theory may have the answers. British Academy of Management Conference. Track: International Business and International Management (No. 177). Nottingham Tent University, UK (2-6 September 2024).
  • Akinwalere, S., Chang, K. & Laho, A. (2025). Foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic growth in Nigeria: A sectoral analysis. British Academy of Management Conference. Track: International Business and International Management (No. 114). University of Kent, UK (1-5 September 2025)

MODULES

  • HR and Finance Business
  • Business Simulation with Professional Development - SG7003
  • Mental Wealth: Professional Fitness and Leadership - HR7004

EXTERNAL WEBSITES

PUBLICATIONS

Visit the UEL research repository to view a full list of publications.

Publications

Browse past publications by year.

Full publications list

Visit the research repository to view a full list of publications

Research repository