Ms Valentina Varbanova
BA, MBA
Management School
Doctoral Researcher
Full contact details
Management School
Sheffield University Management School
Conduit Road
Sheffield
S10 1FL
- Profile
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I am a sociable and dynamic person curious to explore new cultures and develop friendships and professional collaborations. I have an educational background in business administration and international trade obtained through two BA degrees from Bulgaria and France, as well as two masters degrees from France and Spain. I am a PhD candidate in Management (Entrepreneurship and Corporate Social Responsibility) at Sheffield University Management School. I am fluent in several languages: Bulgarian (mother tongue), English, French, and Spanish, and have advanced knowledge of Italian, Russian, and German.
My professional career has been devoted to policy, program management, and research in the public and private sectors. Since 2010, I have been working in various United Nations organizations (UNODC, UNIDO, and the IAEA) building capacity of countries in industrial development, anti-corruption, and the use of atomic energy for development. My skills have been instrumental in policy development as well as in establishing and implementing partnerships with UN organizations and the private sector. These experiences have also equipped me with soft skills such as diplomacy and public engagement. My work has covered various geographic regions, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. During my educational and professional trajectory, I have demonstrated strong interest in and contribution to the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
I am open to research collaborations and professional opportunities, and I am looking for a career transition.
- Qualifications
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- Master in International Business Management in “Internationalization of the Spanish Company”, Spain
- MBA specialized in International Trade, France
- Bachelor degree in Economic and Social Administration, specialization in Administration and Management of Business Establishments, France
- Bachelor degree in Business Administration, specialization in Management of the Tourist Company, Bulgaria
- Research interests
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I am interested in researching in the following areas:
- Corporate social responsibility in small and medium-sized enterprises and its effects on their internationalization
- Business ethics, global value chains and SME upgrading
I am also interested in researching in the area of biodefense, following training I received on the subject.
- Grants
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Acceptance of paper and participation in the Corporate Responsibility Research Conference, Belfast, United Kingdom, 22-23 September 2022. Research Training and Support Grant: £784.02.
Acceptance of paper and participation in the British Academy of Management (BAM) Annual Conference, Manchester, United Kingdom, 31 August - 2 September 2022. Research Training and Support Grant: £664.78.
Acceptance of paper and participation in the International Association for Business and Society Conference (IABS), Lisbon, Portugal, 4-7 June 2020, Research Training and Support Grant: up to £980. Participation cancelled due to COVID-19.
Award from Sheffield University to conduct my fieldwork in South India, January-March 2019. Research Support Fund: £2,000
Acceptance of paper and participation in the UK Academy of International Business (AIB) Doctoral Consortium, Reading, United Kingdom, 6-8 April 2017. Research Training and Support Grant: £545.12
Award of 5-years SUMS Scholarship (2015) to undertake doctoral research in SUMS (£25,000)