Commemorating a Career of Practical Innovation Informed by Scholarly Insight

An Adventurous and Creative Scholar

Across 48 academic years, Danny authored or co-authored 116 publications: five books, 17 book chapters, and 94 journal articles. Beginning his career in economics, he shifted in the late 1990s toward international business and strategy, publishing early landmark work in International Business Review, Strategic Management Journal, and the Journal of International Business Studies. His research appeared in 54 journals spanning economics, management, political science, and public policy, including leading IB and management outlets such as JIBS, JMS, JWB, SMJ, AMJ, and JIBP. His work has been cited more than 15,000 times, particularly on how governance systems, ownership structures, and policy frameworks shape FDI and firm performance. Even during his deanship (2008–2014), Danny published 23 papers—more than three per year—demonstrating remarkable productivity and enduring intellectual curiosity.

Danny’s scholarship evolved around three interconnected themes: international business and strategy; corporate governance and ownership; FDI, public policy, and development. He examined how global firms operate amid shifting political and economic landscapes; how ownership forms, from family to state, shape firm behavior; and how national institutions and public policies influence investment, innovation, and growth. In his later years, he explored how geopolitical rivalry reshapes both firm strategy and public policy, and used the natural resources sector, especially mining, to study how firms interact with local communities, manage environmental obligations, and balance economic and social goals.

A voracious reader of not only academic research but also practitioner outlets such as Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, FDI Intelligence, the Financial Times, The Globe and Mail, and the South China Morning Post, Danny constantly drew connections between current events and academic inquiry, translating them into actionable insights. He approached every project with meticulous literature reviews and a genuine joy of discovery, publishing not from obligation but from curiosity. As one colleague observed, “He kept doing it long after it mattered—he did it because he wanted to.”

Bridging Research and Practice

As Dean of the Beedie School of Business (2008–2014), Danny strengthened the school’s research profile while deepening its engagement with the global business and policy communities. One of his proudest moments was hosting the 2014 AIB Annual Meeting in Vancouver, built around the theme “Local Contexts in Global Business.” In his welcome letter, he wrote:

“The Beedie School of Business has a strong tradition of engagement with AIB and we are proud of the IB research that is so much a part of our DNA. Vancouver represents an appropriate location to consider the interplay between the forces driving both globalization and localization. Vancouver has emerged as a dynamic hub for international trade, technological innovation and sustainable resource development, all of which are—not coincidentally—central to our mission at SFU’s Beedie School of Business.”

At AIB 2014, SFU colleagues organized three signature panels that reflected Danny’s integrative vision—How MNEs Overcome Distrust and Build Legitimacy, Managing New Forms of Risk and Sustainability Challenges, and War for Talent. Each showcased SFU’s research excellence in these areas and embodied Danny’s conviction that scholarship should engage directly with the pressing challenges facing global firms and policymakers.

An Educator’s Heart and a Generous Mentor

Those who knew Danny recall first his devotion to teaching and mentorship. In his bio, he described himself as an educator first, a researcher second, and a dean third. Twice a recipient of SFU’s TD Trust Teaching Award and named AIB Educator of the Year in 2014, he continued teaching with energy and care well into 2020, during his final term before retirement, because he believed students deserve your best every time. He wrote reflective notes to students after each class, met with them one-on-one, and designed executive programs in Canada and abroad, including in Russia, El Salvador, Indonesia, and China.

Colleagues remember Danny for his intellectual generosity and boundless curiosity. “Keeping up with Danny’s emails was a full-time job,” one joked. He approached research with humor, kindness, and an open mind—often over coffee or lunch. Despite his many accomplishments, Danny remained profoundly humble, always lifting others. As one colleague reflected, “He was a first-rate academic and a first-rate person.”

He mentored countless students and co-authors, helping them refine ideas and gain confidence. As another colleague fondly recalled, Danny’s generosity came with only one request: “All he ever wanted in return was a list of the best Sichuan restaurants in Vancouver.” His legacy lives as much in the people he inspired as in the papers he wrote.

A Legacy of Service, Leadership, and Innovation

The Daniel Shapiro AIB Insights Award for Actionable Insights fittingly honors a scholar who believed that the best research bridges theory and practice. Danny frequently read and contributed to AIB Insights, urging colleagues, “If it’s interesting and relevant, send it.” Through this award, his spirit will continue to guide scholars who connect rigorous thinking with real-world impact.

Danny left an indelible legacy—not only through his scholarship but through the relationships, curiosity, and kindness that defined his life. His influence endures in the work, institutions, and people he inspired.

Special thanks to AIB Member Jing Li of Simon Fraser University for composing this touching tribute to her colleague and friend, Daniel Shapiro.