Assistant professor (tenure-track)

I am an economist and philosopher by training (MSc in Economics; BSc in Philosophy, with a focus on analytical philosophy) and hold a PhD from the University of Vienna on behavioral strategy. My research examines behavioral strategy and managerial decision-making through quantitative approaches. Currently, I study how artificial intelligence is reshaping strategic decision-making, talent markets, and managerial judgment.

My work has appeared in leading journals, including the Academy of Management Journal (forthcoming), Strategic Management Journal, Strategy Science, and the European Journal of Operational Research. Before joining WU, I held a tenure-track position at Copenhagen Business School and was a Schumpeter Fellow at Harvard University. I have also trained at and visited institutions such as INSEAD (Singapore), Tsinghua University (Beijing), and Keio University (Tokyo). I was awarded a Marie Curie Fellowship from the European Commission (2022–24) and regularly present my work at major conferences such as AOM, SMS, and EURAM, as well as in media outlets

Current Research Projects

• The War for AI Talent (with Steffen Keck)—how firms compete for scarce AI capabilities.

• AI as Devil’s Advocate in Strategic Decision-Making (with Baer, Keck, Hoffmann)—using AI to surface counterarguments and debias high-stakes choices.

• The “ChatGPT Moment” (with Tihanyi)—hiring AI talent after performance shortfalls.

Flagship Courses

• AI-Driven Decision-Making (course evaluation: 4.8/5)
  - Workflow automation; AI-based decision models; AI as a debiasing coach; AI-augmented data interpretation; AI-powered scenario generation; hands-on coding with cutting-edge AI tools (API calls, n8n, and more).

• AI for Business (course evaluation: 4.7/5)
  - Firm-level AI transformation; the AI value chain; strategic workflow automation; human–AI collaboration; strategic use of AI tools; the future of work.

Selected Publications

1. Keck, S., Schumacher, C., Leavitt, K., & Gupta, A. (2025, conditionally accepted). How Mega-threats Influence Workplace Cooperation: Evidence from the Effect of #BlackLivesMatter on Cooperation among and between Black and White Co-workers. Academy of Management Journal.

2. Schumacher, C., Keck, S., & Gupta, A. (2025, forthcoming). Violence and Competition: The effect of mass shootings and domestic terrorism on organizational risk-taking in response to performance shortfalls. Academy of Management Journal.

3. Schumacher, C., Keck, S., & Tang, W. (2020). Biased interpretation of performance feedback: The role of CEO overconfidence. Strategic Management Journal, 41(6), 1139–1165.
    - Coverage: Fortune, Business Insider, Business Money Magazine, Management Today, AMBA Magazine, Corporate INTL, Fresh Business Thinking, Real Business, AI Global; Finanznachrichten, De24, Risknet, Die Presse, Kurier, Tiroler Tageszeitung, Salzburger Nachrichten, trend, Wiener Zeitung, VDI Nachrichten, MSN; Ö1 (radio interview); Personal Manager (blog interview).
    - Awards: WU Star Paper Award; Strategic Management Journal Award – among the most downloaded during the first 12 months after publication.

 

Find my short CV here.