Biography

Office Hours (Book here to receive a MS Teams link)

Dr. Muhammad Umar Boodoo is an Associate Professor at Warwick Business School and a specialist in evidence-based strategy at the intersection of private equity, human capital, and social impact. He provides data-driven insights into how executive decision-making and organizational practices shape both financial value creation and societal outcomes.

Dr. Boodoo's work challenges conventional wisdom across two critical areas:

1. Private Equity & Human Capital Transformation: His research rigorously demonstrates how PE buyouts, contrary to popular belief, can be a positive catalyst for human capital development.  He has developed frameworks like the "Innovation-Participation-Trust" model, proving how strategic investment in high-involvement practices leads to enhanced worker trust and operational performance. This offers a powerful, evidence-based narrative for PE firms on value creation and ESG.
2. Strategic Philanthropy & ESG Effectiveness: Dr. Boodoo's analysis of large-scale grantmaking reveals systemic biases that limit social impact.  His findings expose how philanthropic decisions, driven by factors like proximity and "homophily," often fail to reach communities of greatest need, inadvertently reinforcing inequality. This work provides a data-driven roadmap for corporations and foundations to optimize their giving for maximum social ROI.

An award-winning researcher from the University of Toronto and a former Fellow at the London School of Economics, Dr. Boodoo's insights have been recognized with Academy of Management Best Paper Awards and featured in leading media outlets including Forbes and the BBC. He actively translates his academic rigor into practical, actionable strategies for organizations navigating complex non-market environments.

Research Interests

Dr. Boodoo's expertise lies in applying rigorous, data-driven analysis to critical strategic challenges, particularly where human capital and executive decision-making intersect with financial and social outcomes. His work provides actionable insights for organizations navigating complex non-market environments and pursuing sustainable value creation.

• Private Equity & Human Capital Strategy:

Analysis of the human capital dynamics within leveraged buyouts (LBOs), including the impact on worker trust, job quality, and operational performance. Focus on identifying and implementing high-involvement work practices that drive value creation and support transformational change.

• ESG & Strategic Philanthropy Effectiveness:

Specialization in optimizing corporate giving and ESG initiatives. Using quantitative methods to expose systemic biases (e.g., "homophily") in resource allocation and design strategies for maximizing social return on investment (SROI) and achieving genuine community impact.

• Executive Decision-Making & Organizational Governance:

Investigating how executive behavioral patterns, psychological characteristics, and governance structures systematically influence strategic choices and resource allocation.  Designing decision frameworks that mitigate bias and enhance strategic effectiveness.

• Non-Market Strategy & Political/Social Risk:

Understanding how cultural, institutional, and regulatory environments shape corporate strategy and stakeholder engagement across diverse global markets. Advising on navigating complex political landscapes and managing social license to operate.

• Sustainable Business Models & Organizational Transformation:

Researching the behavioral and strategic challenges organizations face in transitioning to sustainable business models, balancing profitability with social and environmental responsibilities (e.g., "just transition").