Research focuses

Psychology of Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Entrepreneurship Training

Curriculum vitae

• Since 07/2021 Associate Professor (W2) of Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Cologne
• 2020-2021 Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Warwick Business School, UK
• 2018-2020 Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Warwick Business School, UK
• 2015-2018 Research Associate, Leuphana University of Lüneburg
• 2013-2015 Consultant, Innovations for Poverty Action
• 2013-2017 PhD, Leuphana University of Lüneburg
• 2011-2013 Master of Science in Psychology, University of Heidelberg
• 2007-2011 Bachelor of Science in Business Psychology, University of Lüneburg

Selected publications

Peer-reviewed journal articles

• Gunia, B., Gish, J., & Mensmann, M. (2021). The weary founder: Sleep problems, ADHD-like tendencies, and entrepreneurial intentions. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 45 (1), 175-210.
• Asanov, I., Flores, F., McKenzie, D., Mensmann, M., & Schulte, M. (2021). Remote-learning, time-use, and mental health of Ecuadorian high-school students during the COVID-19 quarantine. World Development, 138, 105225.
• Mensmann, M. & Frese M. (2019). Who stays proactive after entrepreneurship training? Need for cognition, personal initiative maintenance, and well-being. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 40(1), 20-37.
• Campos, F., Frese, M., Goldstein, M., Iacovone, L., Johnson, H., McKenzie, D., & Mensmann, M. (2018). Is personal initiative training a substitute or complement to the existing human capital of women? Results from a randomized trial in Togo. AEA Papers and Proceedings, 108, 1-6.
• Campos, F., Frese, M., Goldstein, M., Iacovone, L., Johnson, H., McKenzie, D., & Mensmann, M. (2017). Teaching personal initiative beats traditional business training in boosting small business in West Africa. Science, 357 (6357), 1287-1290.
• Frese, M., Gielnik, M. M., & Mensmann, M. (2016). Psychological training for entrepreneurs to take action: Contributing to poverty reduction in developing countries. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 25(3), 196-202.

Book chapters

• Mensmann, M., & Zacher, H. (2021). Entrepreneurship across the lifespan. In Frese, M., Cardon, M., & Gielnik, M. (Eds.), The Psychology of Entrepreneurship (pp. 305-322). London, UK: Taylor & Francis Group.
• Zacher, H., Mensmann, M., & Gielnik, M.M. (2018). Ageing and entrepreneurship: A psychological perspective. In Karlsson, C., Backman, M., & Kekezi, O. (Eds.), Handbook on Entrepreneurship and Ageing (pp. 228-245). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.
• Mensmann, M. & Frese, M. (2017). Proactive behavior training. In S. K. Parker & U. K. Bindl (Eds.), Proactivity at Work (pp. 434-468). New York: Routledge.
• Rexroth, M., Sonntag, K., Goecke, T., Klöpfer, A., & Mensmann, M. (2014). Wirkung von Anforderungen und Ressourcen auf die Zufriedenheit mit der Life Balance. In K. Sonntag (Ed.), Arbeit und Privatleben harmonisieren (pp. 86-117). Kröning, Germany: Assanger Verlag GmbH.

Refereed best paper conference proceedings

• Mensmann, M. & Frese, M. (2017). Keep on changing –The role of need for cognition for post-training maintenance of entrepreneurial proactivity. Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, 37(5), 136-141.

Selected media publications

• “Does having ADHD help or hurt entrepreneurs?”, The Wall Street Journal, November 3^rd, 2021 edition.
• “Eigeninitiative: So optimieren Sie Ihre Mitarbeiter“, Wirtschaftswoche, September 26^th, 2017 edition.
• “Teaching entrepreneurship: Mind over matter”, The Economist, September 23^rd, 2017 edition.