Yajing Li

Yajing Li is an assistant professor in management at Lehigh University College of Business. Her research focuses on entrepreneurial financing and innovation, with particular interest in the leaders’ perspective (e.g., board and founders). Her work has appeared in top academic journals, including the Journal of Business Venturing and Research Policy.

Before joining Lehigh, she held an assistant professor position at the University of Manchester. She is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Manchester and a Visiting Scholar at Rice University. She earned her Ph.D. in Strategic Management from Rice University. 

Education

• B.A., Renmin University of China
• M.A., Peking University
• M.A., Rice University
• Ph.D., Rice University

Research Interests

• Entrepreneurial financing
• Innovation
• Corporate governance

Li, Y., & Xia, J. 2026. Stand on the shoulders of academia: The effect of academic directors on science-based breakthrough innovations. Research Policy, 55(8), 105569 (ABS: 4*, FT50, ABDC: A)

Li, Y., & Garg, S. 2025. Balancing power: The role of independent directors on venture boards. Journal of Business Venturing, 40(4)106483 (ABS: 4*, FT50, ABDC: A)

Gao, R. & Li, Y. 2025. Search for whom? Performance feedback, female directors, and search prioritization. Journal of Business Ethics, 1-24 (FT50, ABS: 3, ABDC: A)

Li, Y. 2025. Antecedents of lead director selection. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 33(2), 349–365 (ABS: 3, ABDC: A)