Willy Das

Senior Research Scientist & Curriculum Innovation Manager, Lehigh West

Willy Das is a researcher, educator, and mentor passionate about bridging the worlds of entrepreneurship theory and practice, empowering current and aspiring entrepreneurs, shaping resilient leaders, and advancing innovation that matters.

Das serves as Senior Research Scientist and Curriculum Innovation Manager at Lehigh West, Lehigh University's West Coast Hub based in San Francisco. In this role, she advances the field of entrepreneurship education and practice by developing, extending, and testing entrepreneurship and business innovation theories in real-world settings, collaborating with academic partners, industry stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to make the research more impactful through real-world application.

Deeply committed to the belief that academic insights should fuel real-world change, Das also consults with congressional offices, helping translate evidence-based research into actionable policymaking. Beyond her research, she is a dedicated mentor, guiding entrepreneurs from around the world at every stage of their journey.

Dr. Das earned her Ph.D. in Business Policy and Strategy from the Indian Institute of Management. Her research and thought leadership has been published in leading academic journals and featured in internationally recognized outlets such as Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Fast Company, and Startup Magazine UK.