Xia Li

Dr Xia Li’s research focuses on sustainability and innovation. Her first research stream examines how firms respond to systemic risks such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and geopolitical risk. Her second research stream investigates firms’ investment in and adoption of innovations, particularly green technologies.

Dr Li’s work has been published in Strategic Management Journal and Nature Communications, and has been featured by Newsweek and the UN PRI. She serves on the editorial review board of Strategic Management Journal.

Dr Li has received several research awards, including the UN PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment) Best PhD Paper Award (2022) and Questrom’s Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research (2021). She also received a Research Fellowship from Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center (2020–2022).

Dr Li earned her PhD in Management (Strategy and Innovation) from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. She holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University and earned her undergraduate degrees (BA, BS, and Economics) from Peking University.

Before entering academia, Dr Li worked as a Regional Associate Director at Aon and as a Consultant at Environmental Resources Management. She has lived and pursued professional opportunities in Hong Kong SAR, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Publications

Li X., Gallagher P. K, & Chen X. 2026 (Forthcoming). “Climate Double Whammy: Assessing the Physical and Transition Climate Risks of Overseas Power Projects” Environment Research Letters. 

Li X. 2025. “Physical Climate Change Exposure and Firms’ Adaptation Strategy.” Strategic Management Journal. 46(3): 750-789 

Li X. & Gallagher P. K. 2022. “Assessing the Climate Change Exposure of Foreign Direct Investment.” Nature Communications. 13:1451 

Li X. & Simcoe T. 2021. “Competing or Complementary Labels? Estimating Spillovers in Chinese Green Building Certification.” Strategic Management Journal. 42(13): 2451-2476