Davis Conference on Qualitative Research Draws Top Scholars

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Twenty-five years ago, the Graduate School of Management began inviting emerging young scholars to UC Davis to present their latest qualitative research at a two-day weekend conference.

The 2025 Davis Conference on Qualitative Research was held on March 21-23 at the Graduate School of Management and in Napa Valley. 

This year marked the 25th anniversary of the academic conference. It's considered the premier event of the year for qualitative researchers in management, reflecting the strength of our organizational behavior faculty group here at the Graduate School of Management.

The intimate gathering brought together nearly 20 qualitative researchers from around the globe to share their work in progress. 

This year, invited researchers shared papers that included the development of entrepreneurial ventures, the impact of diversity, and occupational challenges. The seven presenters included:

• Assistant Professor Doug Hannah of Boston University’s Questrom School of Business
• Assistant Professor Esther Leibel of the Ivey Business School in London
• Senior Lecturer Joelle Evans of the Bayes Business School at the City St. George’s, University of London
• Assistant Professor Jelani Ince of the Department of Sociology at the University of Washington
• Assistant Professor Lily Crosina of Babson College
• Assistant Professor Audrey Holm of HEC Paris
• Professor of Entrepreneurship Dan Wadhwani of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California

Wide-Ranging, Impactful Research

For example, we learned about the pathways startups took in response to the crisis of the COVID pandemic and how social entrepreneurs in the slow food movement adapted their business models.

Scholars described how entrepreneurs’ identities impacted their venture in documentary production, and how the particular players in railroads and Western Union established standardized time zones in the U.S.

We also saw how diversity impacted the organization of an interracial church, how new hiring practices shaped the careers of media apprentices, and how prison reentry counselors overcome the barriers in their jobs.

After an engaging day of presentations at the Graduate School of Management, attendees headed the Napa Valley for a beautiful and relaxing evening of food and wine.