Prof. Dr. David Risi

Responsibilities

Scientific Project Leader; Teaching Module Leader

Biography

David Risi is a professor at the Bern University of Applied Sciences (Business) and a private lecturer at the University of St. Gallen. He completed his doctorate and habilitation at the University of St. Gallen.

He was awarded the Academy of Management Social Issues in Management Best Dissertation Award in 2017. In 2021, he was nominated for the Credit Suisse Award for Best Teaching. In 2025, he was honored in WirtschaftsWoche's business administration ranking as one of the top 100 “under 40s”.

David Risi's work has appeared in influential practice-oriented (e.g., Harvard Business Review) and leading academic journals (e.g., Journal of Management Studies). He worked for a consulting firm for several years and was a senior researcher at Oxford University. He is an Editorial Review Member and Special Issue Editor of academic journals and leads teaching modules and research projects (supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and Innosuisse, among others). He teaches at leading universities in Switzerland and abroad and works closely with partners from industry and civil society, speaks on practical committees, and takes on consultancy mandates.

Other projects

Athanasopoulou, A., Marti, E., Risi, D. and Schlindwein, E. (2025). How Companies Restrain Means–Ends Decoupling: A Comparative Case Study of CSR Implementation. Journal of Management Studies.

Athanasopoulou, A., Marti, E., Risi, D. and Schlindwein, E. (2025), How Companies Restrain Means–Ends Decoupling: A Comparative Case Study of CSR Implementation. Journal of Management Studies. https://doi.org/10.1

E Marti, D Risi, E Schlindwein, A Athanasopoulou (2024). Creating a Corporate Social Responsibility Program with Real Impact. Harvard Business Review

E Marti, D Risi, E Schlindwein, A Athanasopoulou (2024). Creating a Corporate Social Responsibility Program with Real Impact. Harvard Business Review

Risi, D., Wickert, C., & Ramus, T. (2023). Coordinated Enactment: How Organizational Departments Work Together to Implement CSR. Business & Society, 62(4), 745–786.

Risi, D., Wickert, C., & Ramus, T. (2023). Coordinated Enactment: How Organizational Departments Work Together to Implement CSR. Business & Society, 62(4), 745–786.

Risi, D. , et al. (2023). Institutional theory-based research on Corporate Social Responsibility: Bringing values back in. International Journal of Management Reviews, 25(1), 3–23.

Risi, D., Vigneau, L., & Bohn, S., & Wickert, C. W. (2023). Institutional theory-based research on Corporate Social Responsibility: Bringing values back in. International Journal of Management Reviews, 25(1), 3–23.

Wickert, C., Risi, D., & Ramus, T. (2022) What a mature CSR team looks like. Harvard Business Review, November 16, p. 1-9.

Wickert, C., Risi, D., & Ramus, T. (2022) What a mature CSR team looks like. Harvard Business Review, November 16, p. 1-9.

Risi, D., & Marti, E. (2022). Illuminating the dark side of values: A framework for institutional research. Journal of Management Inquiry, 31(3), 253–263.

Risi, D., & Marti, E. (2022). Illuminating the dark side of values: A framework for institutional research. Journal of Management Inquiry, 31(3), 253–263.

Risi, David (2022). Business and society research drawing on institutionalism: Integrating normative and descriptive research on values. Business & Society, 61(2), pp. 305-339

Risi, D. (2022). Business and Society Research Drawing on Institutionalism: Integrating Normative
and Descriptive Research on Values. In Business & Society (Vol. 61, Issue 2). SAGE. https://doi.org/10.24451/arbor.13003

Risi, D., Paetzold, F., & Kellers, A. (2021). Wealthy private investors and socially responsible investing: The influence of reference groups. Sustainability, 13(22), pp. 1-26.

https://arbor.bfh.ch/15835/1/sustainability-13-12931.pdf

Risi, D. (2020). Time and business sustainability: Socially responsible investing in Swiss banks and insurance companies. Business & Society, 59(7), 1410–1440.

Risi, D. (2020). Time and Business Sustainability: Socially Responsible Investing in Swiss Banks and Insurance Companies. In Business & Society (Vol. 59, Issue 7). Sage. https://doi.org/10.24451/arbor.13002

Athanasopoulou, A., Smets, M., Risi, D., & Morris, T. (2020). Lonely at the Top? CEO sensemaking in the boardroom. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2020 (1). DOI: 10.5465/AMBPP.2020.20409abs

Risi, D., Athanasopoulou, A., Smets, M., & Morris, T. (2020). Lonely at the Top? CEO sensemaking in the boardroom. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2020, Issue 1). https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/41446

Wickert, C. W., & Risi, D. (2019). Corporate social responsibility (Elements in Business Strategy). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI: 10.1017/9781108775298

Risi, D., & Wickert, C. (2019). Corporate social responsibility (Elements in Business Strategy). Cambridge University Press. https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/41336

Wickert, C. W., & Risi, D. (2019). Implementing corporate social responsibility as institutional work: Exploring the day-to-day activities of CSR managers in multinational corporations. In: Sales,

Risi, D., & Wickert, R. (2019). Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility as Institutional Work: Exploring the Day-to-Day Activities of CSR Managers in Multinational Corporations (A. Sales, Ed.; Vol. 57). Springer. https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/41337

Risi, D., & Wickert, C. W. (2019). Exploring the internal dynamics of corporate social responsibility implementation. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2019 (1). DOI: 10.5465/AMBPP.2019.10561abst

Risi, D., & Wickert, C. (2019). Exploring the Internal Dynamics of Corporate Social Responsibility Implementation. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2019, Issue 1). https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/41101

Risi, D., Vigneau, L., & Bohn, S. (2019). The role values play for agency in institutions. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2019 (1). DOI: 10.5465/AMBPP.2019.10558abstract

Risi, D., Vigneau, L., & Bohn, S. (2019). The Role Values Play for Agency in Institutions. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2019, Issue 1). https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/41100

Risi, D., & Wickert, C. W. (2017). Reconsidering the “symmetry” between institutionalization and professionalization: The case of corporate social responsibility managers. Journal of Management St

Risi, D., & Wickert, C. (2017). Reconsidering the ‘Symmetry’ Between Institutionalization and Professionalization: The Case of Corporate Social Responsibility Managers. In Journal of Management Studies (Vol. 54, Issue 5). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.24451/arbor.12998

Risi, D. (2017). An institutional theory perspective on the implementation of corporate social responsibility within large firms: Empirical and conceptual considerations. Dissertation no. 4620: Di

13005

Risi, D. (2017). Toward a morally reflective institutional analysis. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2017 (1), 10512.

Risi, D. (2017). Toward a Morally Reflective Institutional Analysis. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2017, Issue 1). https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/38962

Risi, D. (2017). Understanding financial intermediaries’ hesitation about socially responsible investing. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2017 (1), 10331

Risi, D. (2017). Understanding financial intermediaries’ hesitation about socially responsible investing. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2017, Issue 1). https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/38961

Internal memberships

Institut Sustainable Business

External memberships

Academy of Management
European Group of Organization Studies
Journal of Management Studies (Editorial Review Board)
University of St. Gallen (Institute for Business Ethics)

Prof. Dr. David Risi

Profile

Contact

Links

Activities

Responsibilities

CV

Biography

Projects

Other projects

Publications

Athanasopoulou, A., Marti, E., Risi, D. and Schlindwein, E. (2025). How Companies Restrain Means–Ends Decoupling: A Comparative Case Study of CSR Implementation. Journal of Management Studies.

E Marti, D Risi, E Schlindwein, A Athanasopoulou (2024). Creating a Corporate Social Responsibility Program with Real Impact. Harvard Business Review

Risi, D., Wickert, C., & Ramus, T. (2023). Coordinated Enactment: How Organizational Departments Work Together to Implement CSR. Business & Society, 62(4), 745–786.

Risi, D. , et al. (2023). Institutional theory-based research on Corporate Social Responsibility: Bringing values back in. International Journal of Management Reviews, 25(1), 3–23.

Wickert, C., Risi, D., & Ramus, T. (2022) What a mature CSR team looks like. Harvard Business Review, November 16, p. 1-9.

Risi, D., & Marti, E. (2022). Illuminating the dark side of values: A framework for institutional research. Journal of Management Inquiry, 31(3), 253–263.

Risi, David (2022). Business and society research drawing on institutionalism: Integrating normative and descriptive research on values. Business & Society, 61(2), pp. 305-339

Risi, D., Paetzold, F., & Kellers, A. (2021). Wealthy private investors and socially responsible investing: The influence of reference groups. Sustainability, 13(22), pp. 1-26.

Risi, D. (2020). Time and business sustainability: Socially responsible investing in Swiss banks and insurance companies. Business & Society, 59(7), 1410–1440.

Athanasopoulou, A., Smets, M., Risi, D., & Morris, T. (2020). Lonely at the Top? CEO sensemaking in the boardroom. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2020 (1). DOI: 10.5465/AMBPP.2020.20409abs

Wickert, C. W., & Risi, D. (2019). Corporate social responsibility (Elements in Business Strategy). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI: 10.1017/9781108775298

Wickert, C. W., & Risi, D. (2019). Implementing corporate social responsibility as institutional work: Exploring the day-to-day activities of CSR managers in multinational corporations. In: Sales,

Risi, D., & Wickert, C. W. (2019). Exploring the internal dynamics of corporate social responsibility implementation. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2019 (1). DOI: 10.5465/AMBPP.2019.10561abst

Risi, D., Vigneau, L., & Bohn, S. (2019). The role values play for agency in institutions. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2019 (1). DOI: 10.5465/AMBPP.2019.10558abstract

Risi, D., & Wickert, C. W. (2017). Reconsidering the “symmetry” between institutionalization and professionalization: The case of corporate social responsibility managers. Journal of Management St

Risi, D. (2017). An institutional theory perspective on the implementation of corporate social responsibility within large firms: Empirical and conceptual considerations. Dissertation no. 4620: Di

Risi, D. (2017). Toward a morally reflective institutional analysis. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2017 (1), 10512.

Risi, D. (2017). Understanding financial intermediaries’ hesitation about socially responsible investing. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2017 (1), 10331

Memberships

Internal memberships

External memberships