Faculty and Staff
Photo of Dr. Moustafa Haj Youssef

Dr. Moustafa Haj Youssef

Associate Professor

Bio

Dr Moustafa Haj Youssef is an Associate Professor of Management at the Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University. His research spans strategic management, entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural studies, with a particular focus on managerial discretion, strategic leadership, and gendered and contextual dimensions of entrepreneurship in emerging economies (focus on MENA/Arab region). His work has been published in leading international journals, including Journal of Business Research, Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Business Strategy and the Environment, International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, and Cross Cultural & Strategic Management among others.

He has secured and led several competitive research grants, most notably as Principal Investigator of the Templeton World Charity Foundation–funded project Entrepreneurship in the MENA Region: The Uncharted Territory (USD 248,325), as well as externally funded projects supported by Chinese national research councils and internal university funding. He is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and a Chartered Management and Business Educator, and actively contributes to the academic community through doctoral supervision, journal reviewing, and international research collaborations.

Teaching Interests

Research Interests

Editorial and Review Activities

Recent Refereed Publications

  1. Baijou, M., Ahmed, T., Haj Youssef, M., & Kraus, S. 2026. Uneven contributions: Informal entrepreneurship and sustainability in the Global South. Business Strategy and the Environment. Forthcoming. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  2. Haj Youssef, M., and Sayour, N. 2026. The Influence of Parental Entrepreneurial Background on Children’s Intentions: A Gendered Analysis Across the Arab MENA. Management Decision. Forthcoming. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  3. Morris, S., and Haj Youssef, M. 2026. Acculturation of International Doctors in the UK National Health Service: The case of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Journal of Work-Applied Management. Under review 3rd round. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  4. Haj Youssef, M., Sayour, N., Valaei, N., Hussein, H., and Harakeh, M. 2025. Impact of Personality Traits on Entrepreneurial Orientation: A Configurational Comparative Study of Home and International Entrepreneurs in the Middle East. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development. Online first. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  5. Haj Youssef, M., and Kleindienst, I., Khalife, D., and Ayanian, M. 2025. Enacting high discretion in a low discretion environment: The character assassination of Carlos Ghosn. Critical Perspectives on International Business. Online first. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q2).
  6. Haj Youssef, M., Nolan, S., and Hussein, H. 2025. The transition behaviour of self-employed in the UK and the role of unionization during economic downturn. Journal of Management History. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  7. Haj Youssef, M., and Sayour, N. 2025. Exploring Gendered Perspectives on Personality Traits and Entrepreneurial Performance in Lebanon During the COVID-19 Crisis. Gender Issues. In Press. (Scopus Q1).
  8. Arslan, N., Haj Youssef. M., and Ghandour, R. 2025. The role of AI in shaping the learning experiences of international students: case study of a UK University. AI in Education. 1(1), 1-23.
  9. Kleindienst, I., Haj Youssef, M., Harakeh, M., & Yu, M. 2024. Does the CEO effect differ in times of crisis? Evidence from US and China during the Global Financial Crisis. Journal of Business Research. 182, 114807. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  10. Awada, H., and Haj Youssef., M. 2024. Tacit knowledge sharing in a Lebanese family business: the influence of organizational structure and tie strength. Journal of Family Business Management. Online First. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  11. Hussein, H., Haj Youssef, M., and Nolan, S. Is it worth investing in education? The returns to the most dynamic group of entrepreneurs. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning. Forthcoming. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  12. Haj Youssef, M., Nolan, S., and Hussein, H. 2024. Navigating Turbulence in the UK: How Gender Shapes Self-employed Social Engagement During Crises? International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 16 (3): 315-340. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  13. Christodoulou, I., Haj Youssef, M., Wasim, J., Phan, T.T.T., Reinhardt, R. and Nguyen, B.N. 2024. Breaking barriers: unveiling motivations, challenges and policy recommendations for women’s entrepreneurship in Vietnam. Journal of Asia Business Studies. 18 (6): 1541-1566. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  14. Teng, D., Haj Youssef, M., and Li, C. 2024. When MNEs bribe more? The role of managerial discretion. Cross Cultural & Strategic Management, 31 (1), 87-115. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  15. Haj Youssef, M., Wasim, J., Christodoulou, I., and Reinhardt, R. 2024. Intersecting Bonds: A Perspective on Polygamy’s Influence in Arab Middle East Family Firm Succession. Journal of Family Business Management, 14(5): 1018.-1025. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  16. Haj Youssef, M., El Masri, T., Christodoulou, I., and Lan, M, T. 2024. Graduate employability in Lebanon: leveraging alumni networks and cross-cultural competencies. Journal of Asia Business Studies. 18 (6): 1529-1540. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  17. Wassim, J., Haj Youssef., M., Christodoulou, I., and Reinhardt, R. 2024. The role of social networks in closing the gap between entrepreneurial learning and university curriculum. Journal of Management Education, 48(3): 459-493. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  18. Wassim, J., Haj Youssef., M., Christodoulou, I., and Reinhardt, R. 2024. Higher education student intentions behind becoming an entrepreneur. Higher Education, Skills, and Work-Based Learning, 14(1): 162-180. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).
  19. Christodoulou, I., Haj Youssef, M., Reinhardt, R., Wasim, J., and Simillidou, 2024 A. Strategic scaling initiatives and client networking dynamics for small and medium enterprises growth; A comprehensive case study analysis. Journal of Trade Science. In Press.
  20. Hussein, H., & Haj Youssef, M. 2023. In and out of self-employment, are you really an entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship Research Journal, 13(4): 881-934. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q2).
  21. Haj Youssef, M. & Teng, D. 2021. Market entry strategies in the Middle East: Unveiling the sponsorship strategy. International Studies of Management & Organization, 51(3): 253-275. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q3).
  22. Haj Youssef, M. & Teng, D. (2021). Managerial discretion and corporate governance: The bonded relationship. Corporate Ownership & Control, 18(3): 75-85. Scopus Indexed.
  23. Haj Youssef, M., Hussein, H., & Awada, H. (2020). The more you value, the less you practice: Culture and managerial discretion. Cross Cultural & Strategic Management, 27(1): 26-50. (ABS-ranked, Scopus Q1).