International Growth Strategies

Niccolò brings a unique combination of skills to IMD, bridging the worlds of business and academia.

His areas of expertise are strategic management and international business, with emphasis on globalization, sustainability and digitization. One of Niccolò’s key areas of interest is corporate social responsibility – his research in this stream has recently focused on inequality and sustainable cities.

“Today, more than ever, companies need to be aware of the critical role they play in our society and actively contribute to resolving some of the enduring global issues of our times,” says Niccolò. “Not only because consumers are increasingly attracted to the ‘good companies’, but because society at large needs more socially responsible businesses that create economic prosperity in a sustainable manner.”

Issues such as environmental sustainability and gender equality are at the core of his research; he believes in empowering women and ensuring their full and effective participation in leadership.

”I’m convinced there is no better place than IMD to continue pursuing these important areas while actively engaging with executives from around the world,” states Niccolò.

Exploring how truly global corporate social responsibility is represents the focus of his article in the “Journal of World Business”, which won the 2017 International Association for Business and Society (IABS) best published paper award. His other empirical research work has been published in top-tier academic journals – such as the “Strategic Management Journal”, the “Journal of International Business Studies”, the “Journal of Management” and the “Journal of Management Studies” – and beyond.

The Professor of Strategy and International Business brings eight years of teaching experience at different program levels, including master’s, executive education and custom programs. Before coming to IMD, he was a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam.

Focusing on global strategy, sustainability, business analytics and the luxury goods market, his courses translate complex research into practitioner-oriented lessons. In particular, participants learn to appreciate the nuances of doing business internationally and formulate strategies to compete across borders in today’s increasingly multifaceted landscape.

”IMD is a great institution with global reach, an outstanding faculty and an unremitting commitment to learning and real impact. Contributing to IMD’s vibrant and intellectually enriching learning environment, delivering classes in our campuses in Lausanne and Singapore as well as at client sites around the globe, is stimulating work.”

He has partnered with a variety of companies – such as Zalando, Yum!, TomTom, and Audemars Piguet – to either ensure a real-world learning environment in his sessions or generate and deliver applied research. His recent case study “ING Bank: Facing Digital Disruption” has been adopted across continents to discuss the challenges posed by digitization in the banking industry.

Niccolò earned a Master of Science in Economics and Management from Pompeu Fabra University and received his PhD in Management from IESE Business School.

In addition to his experience in academia, Niccolò brings four years of industry experience gained at Sanlorenzo. At this global leader in high-end luxury yachting, he was responsible for international sales of tailor-made motor yachts up to 36 meters.

Early in his career, he also worked as a researcher in finance and investments for Merrill Lynch in its San Francisco office.

Niccolò speaks five languages – Italian, English, French, Spanish and German – and is an avid sailor and skier. He lives in the Lausanne area with his family.

Omar Toulan is Professor of Strategy and International Management at IMD. Professor Toulan's areas of expertise include strategic management, international business, growth strategies, and managing the multinational. Among his areas of research are offshoring and outsourcing, global account management, emerging market multinationals, and the impact of the digital disruption on the retail sector. His research has appeared in a variety of academic and practitioner oriented journals including Strategic Management Journal, Journal of International Business Studies, California Management Review, Industrial and Corporate Change, Emerging Markets Review, and Journal of Latin American Studies.

Before joining IMD, Dr. Toulan spent 19 years at McGill University in Canada where he was a tenured professor and also served as Associate Dean Academic and Masters Programs of the business school, overseeing all faculty and leading the introduction and redesign of various masters programs. He has also spent time as a Visiting Professor at London Business School, INSEAD, Imperial College, Stockholm School of Economics, and Universidad Torcuato di Tella. He has been awarded various research and teaching grants, including a Teaching Chair from the Quebec Government. He has given executive seminars extensively not only in Europe and North America but also Latin America and Japan.

Prior to entering academia, Professor Toulan worked as a management consultant for McKinsey and Company in its New York office, as well as at its Global Institute in Washington, D.C. He has also worked as a researcher at the US President's Council of Economic Advisers.

Professor Toulan received his undergraduate degree in International Economics from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and went on to complete his PhD in Strategy at the Sloan School of Management at MIT.