IMD has appointed Naomi Haefner as Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Innovation.
Haefner connects rigorous academic research with practical business applications. She focuses on how artificial intelligence is influencing innovation strategies, altering organizational structures, and changing the way leaders make strategic decisions in increasingly complex environments.
“We are delighted that Naomi Haefner is joining our faculty,” said Stefan Michel, Professor of Management and Dean of Faculty and Research. “Her hands-on expertise in AI coding, her experience in business model development, and her research on innovation are a strong foundation for creating impact with participants and clients.”
Haefner’s work has been globally recognized and published in leading journals such as Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice and Technological Forecasting and Social Change.
“I’m thrilled to join IMD and work with leaders, entrepreneurs, and participants who want to turn AI into real, lasting impact,” said Haefner. “My work reinforces a simple point: competitive advantage doesn’t come from AI itself, but from the choices organizations make about innovation strategy, decision-making, and how they’re designed to execute. At IMD, I’m excited to equip leaders with rigorous, practical approaches that help them move from experimentation to scalable innovation.”
Haefner joins IMD from the University of St. Gallen, where she was Assistant Professor of Technology Management. Affiliated with the Global Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (GCEI-HSG) and the Institute of Technology Management (ITEM-HSG), she led the Emerging Technologies Lab, leading research on the implications of emerging technologies.
Read more about Haefner here.
