New colleague Amber van der Zouwen joined ELS per September 2024

My name is Amber Koning—Van der Zouwen. I have been with the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences for over eight years, primarily within the Rotterdam Business School. In my role, I focus on teaching entrepreneurship, marketing, and research. My passion lies in inspiring students and entrepreneurs to develop innovative and future-proof strategies.

My PhD research project, titled "Forging Future-Proof Small Businesses: Unveiling Ambidextrous Strategies, Competencies, and Learning Approaches", is not just an academic pursuit. Under the guidance of my main supervisor, Renate Wesselink, and co-supervisor, Yvette Baggen, I am exploring how to strengthen ambidextrous competencies within small businesses. This research is aimed at providing practical solutions for entrepreneurs and their teams to develop these skills and reinforce ambidextrous characteristics within their organizations.

My research is motivated by a strong belief in the potential of small businesses to lead the transition to a balanced economy. These businesses play a crucial role but often struggle to take the lead on their own. I am convinced that ambidextrous strategies are the key to helping them navigate the challenges of today and tomorrow, and my research is dedicated to proving this.

I feel privileged to be able to combine my work as a lecturer with this PhD project, as it directly connects to my daily practice.

I earned my Bachelor's degree in Commercial Economics in Rotterdam and my Master’s in Marketing Communications at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.