Bob Bastian - About me

I am an assistant professor of entrepreneurship and design at the Politecnico Milano in Italy. At the core of my research, I explore how we deal with uncertainty while solving problems. Entrepreneurs are problem solvers. As such, my research and teaching focus on how we form mental models about these problems. I completed a double PhD at the University of Bergamo and the University of Pavia in 2022 with Entrepreneurship Under Radical Uncertainty - A Cognitive Perspective on Experimenting in the Unknown. In this work, I explore the relevance of knowing what you don’t know with the help of the science of self-awareness. A key point is that metacognition plays an essential role for entrepreneurs to overcome cognitive barriers to come to logical judgments and decisions, but also to be capable of empathizing with others' viewpoints. My work has been nominated for the Kauffman Best Paper Award in Entrepreneurial Cognition at the Academy of Management Annual Conference.

What do I do?

I teach courses in entrepreneurship and problem framing at the Politecnico Milano, University of Pavia, and iaelyon School of Management in France. In my research, I find joy in combining epistemology, behavioral science, and psychology - mostly conducted in qualitative and experimental settings. My work has been published in Financial Times Top 50 ranked outlets such as Harvard Business Review and Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. I am also a visiting research fellow at the University of Groningen and a co-proponent for the European Academy of Management standing track “Entrepreneurial Cognition and Behaviour”. 

For collaboration proposals related to research, teaching and/or consultancy, please reach out to me: bastian.bob[at]gmail.com