James D. Thompson

James D. Thompson is a distinguished academic and practitioner in the field of social entrepreneurship, currently serving as the coauthor of The Social Entrepreneur’s Playbook and co-founder and director of the Wharton Social Entrepreneurship Program. His research interests focus on social entrepreneurship, future market growth, and investment strategies in uncertain conditions. As a seasoned educator, he teaches in Wharton’s Executive Education programs, where he collaborates with management teams globally to design and implement organic growth strategies that enhance firm value.Before transitioning to academia, James held the role of divisional director at a public company, where he was responsible for business unit turnarounds and new market development. He currently contributes to the executive board of a venture capital-backed company in Philadelphia. With a PhD from The Swiss Institute of Technology (EPFL), James has published extensively in top-tier journals such as the Harvard Business Review, Journal of Management, and Management Science, and has received numerous accolades, including Best Paper Awards and the prestigious 2013 Gerald E. Hills Award from the American Marketing Association.