PRIYAM SARAF
Stanford University Campus 94305 | priyams@stanford.edu
EDUCATION
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Stanford University, California
Ph.D., Macro Organizational Behavior, Graduate School of Business (GSB), expected 2026
Ph.D., Minor, Sociology, Department of Sociology
Dissertation: Three Essays on Emerging Economy Firms Supplying to International Markets (Jesper Sørensen, advisor; Woody Powell, Barbara Kiviat, committee members)
Columbia University, New York
M.P.A., Economic and Political Development concentration, 2012
Thesis (Honors): State-Level Variations in Indian Labor Laws and Worker Output (reader: Suresh Naidu)
University Scholar
Singapore Management University, Singapore
B.S., Economics, 2007
B.S., Information Systems Management, 2007
Salutatorian
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DISSERTATION
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Three Essays on Emerging Economy Firms Supplying to International Markets
Often family-owned, firms in emerging economies supplying to international markets account for 60 percent of global trade and drive jobs, growth, and economic development. While these firms are shaped by both global market and local institutional pressures, the interaction of these forces—and their influence on organizational behavior and firm productivity—remains under-examined. Addressing this, I draw on multi-year ethnographic fieldwork to examine how firm leaders interpret competing pressures, construct varied understandings of productivity, and legitimize some practices over others. This helps explain variations in the adoption of productivity-oriented practices like CEO professionalization, automation, and ESG standards, with consequences for employees’ daily lives, firm productivity, and economic development. Conceptually, I bring organizations to the foreground as sites of interaction and interpretation rather than neutral conduits of market or institutional pressures. Theoretically and methodologically, I draw on middle-range theories and interpretive tools from economic sociology to advance understanding of a long-standing puzzle: why productivity varies among seemingly identical firms in shared market and institutional environments.
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Senior Economist, World Bank Group, stationed in Washington D.C, Mexico, and India, 2012-2021
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Selected to the Young Professional Program; progressive succession across levels
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Produced research on firm-level productivity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic growth
Senior Associate Consultant, Bain & Company, Singapore, 2007-2010
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Analyzed data to advise private equity companies on market-entry, acquisition and growth strategies in Asia
Financial Risk Analysis Intern, Monetary Authority of Singapore, 2006
ACADEMIC PAPERS
Working Papers (manuscripts available upon request)
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Saraf, Priyam. “Interpreting Labor: Variations in Automation and Meanings of Labor among Emerging Economy Firms.”
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Best International Paper, Organization and Management Theory Section of the Academy of Management
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Runner-Up Carolyn B. Dexter Award, Academy of Management
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Honorable Mention, Best Student Paper Award, Sociology of Development Section of American Sociological Association
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Honorable Mention, Best Student Paper Award, Science, Knowledge, and Technology Section of American Sociological Association
Saraf, Priyam. “Searching for a Confidant: How do Family Firms Hire a Professional CEO in Emerging Markets?”
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Saraf, Priyam. “How New Ideas Entered US Economics: Analyzing US Economic Dissertations (1980-2015) using Natural Language Processing.”
Saraf, Priyam. “How Climate-Ed Digital Platforms Are Shaping Professional Understandings of Climate Skills.”
Data Analysis and Writing
Saraf, Priyam. “Studying Up Revisited: Ethnographic Approaches for Researching the Organizational Elite in Emerging Market Firms.”
Saraf, Priyam. “Middle-Range Theory to Explain Productivity Variations and Selection among Firms in Emerging Economies Catering to International Markets.”
Saraf, Priyam. “Buyer Power as a Shared Constraint: Merchandiser WhatsApp Networks and Price-Setting Behavior among Bangladeshi Garment Firms.”
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Saraf, Priyam and Stefan Dimitriadis. “A Field Experiment on Adaptive Skills and Cash Transfer among Emerging Market Entrepreneurs.”
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Data Collection
Saraf, Priyam. “A Field Experiment on Competence, Cultural Similarity and Controllability during Senior Executive Hiring Evaluations in Emerging Markets.”
Saraf, Priyam and Arvind Karunakaran. “When and Why Mid-Career Professionals Transition into Climate or AI Jobs.”
Saraf, Priyam. “Varieties of Deinstitutionalization: Emerging Market Government Responses to the Discontinuity and Reinstatement of a Global Economic Performance Ranking System.”
SELECTED POLICY PUBLICATIONS (peer reviewed marked with asterisk*)
*Haven, Thomas, Denny Bynoe, Rohan Longmore, and Priyam Saraf. 2022. “Creating Markets in Jamaica - Repositioning for Private Sector-led Sustainable Growth.” Country Private Sector Diagnostic. World Bank.
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World Bank Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions Award for Research Excellence, 2022
*Saraf, Priyam, Julian Jamison, and Tasmia Rahman. 2019. “Group-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Training Improves Mental Health of SME Entrepreneurs: Experimental Evidence from Conflict-Affected Areas of Pakistan.” World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series 8872.
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Media coverage: JPAL Evaluation Spotlights
*Saraf, Priyam, Julian Jamison, Tasmia Rahman, Miguel Gallardo, and Charles Lor. 2019. “Improving Mental Well-Being and Productivity of Small-Medium Entrepreneurs in Fragile, Conflict and Violence-Affected Areas: Can Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Trainings Help?” World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series 8489.
Saraf, Priyam. 2019. “Study of Fragility, Entrepreneurship and Mental Health: Investing in Better Cognitive and Behavioral Skills for Small Medium Enterprise Entrepreneurs to Thrive in Conflict-Affected Areas of Pakistan.” World Bank Book Series.
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Selected for Human Capital Spotlight (top innovative ideas in human capital at World Bank)
*Criscuolo, Alberto, Priyam Saraf, Esteban Ferro, and Sandra Cordova. 2018. “Regional Competitiveness of the Newly-Created Nuble Region in Chile.” World Bank Report for the Government of Nuble in Chile.
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Media Coverage (in Spanish): Chile Noticias Universidad de BioBio 2018; SanCarlos Online 2018
*Saraf, Priyam. 2017. “On-the-job Training: Returns, Barriers to Provision, and Policy Implications.” World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series 8090. Commissioned for the World Development Report (WDR) on Education. World Bank.
*Saraf, Priyam. 2016. “Automotive in South Asia: From Fringe to Global.” Sector Note for South Asia Regional Flagship Report. World Bank.
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World Bank Equitable Growth, Finance, and Institutions Award for Research Excellence, 2016
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Media Coverage: Daily FT Sri Lanka 2017; MotorIndia 2017; AutoCar Professional 2017
Saraf, Priyam. 2014. “Is the Skill Gap as Big as Reported?” World Economic Forum.
Bonilla, Samuel, Meriem Goutali, Priyam Saraf, and Juontel White. 2013. “Enhancing School-Based Management in Decentralized Education Systems: Case of Ghana.” In Global Corruption Report: Education, edited by Transparency International. Taylor & Francis Group.
During my career as a World Bank Economist, I wrote several policy research papers for governments on strategies for inclusive economic growth. My audience included the governments of India, Pakistan, Mexico, Chile, Jamaica, Kenya, Ethiopia, among others, with whom I engaged and to whom I presented research findings.
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BOOK REVIEW
Saraf, Priyam. 2012. Developing Living Cities: From Analysis to Action, by Seetharam Kallidaikurichi and Belinda Yuen. Journal of International Affairs. 65(2): 203.
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SELECTED GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
Grants
Stanford King Center for Global Development Research Grant, 2022, ($15,000)
World Bank Mental Health Support in Developing Countries Research Grant, 2018, ($15,000)
DFID-World Bank Multi-Donor Trust for Pakistan Economic Rehabilitation Research Support, 2018, ($55,000)
World Bank Development Economics Research Group Experimental Pilot Grant, 2018, ($29,500)
World Bank State and Peacebuilding Research Grant, 2017, ($100,000)
International Finance Corporation-World Bank Small Medium Enterprise Innovation Launchpad Competition, 2017, ($100,000)
Fellowships and Awards
Stanford University Harold J. Leavitt Graduate Fellowship, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, full-year fellowship
Stanford University Charles W. Bonner Fellow 2023-2024, full-year fellowship
Columbia University Office of Student Affairs Economics Fellow Award, 2011-2012, full-year scholarship
Singapore Government International Scholar Award, 2003-2007, four-year undergraduate scholarship
Singapore Computer Society (SCS) Best Computer Science Student Award, 2003-2004, 2006-2007, country-wide CS award
Singapore Management University Summa Cum Laude & University Salutatorian, 2003-2007
University of British Columbia & University College of Dublin World Debating Championship Travel Award, 2006, 2007
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University of Queensland Australasian Debating Travel Award, 2005
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SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
“Searching for a Confidant: How do Family Firms Hire a Professional CEO in Emerging Markets?”
American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, 2025 (forthcoming)
Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics Annual Meeting, Montreal, 2025 (forthcoming)
17th International Network of Analytical Sociology, Columbia University, New York, 2025
Columbia Business School Organizations and Immigration Conference, New York, 2025
Rotman School of Business, Managing in Emerging Markets Conference, Toronto, 2025
Bocconi University and St. Gallen University “Owners as Strategists” Virtual Conference, 2024
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center “Solving Global Poverty” Conference, Washington D.C., 2024
Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago, 2024
Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics Annual Meeting, Virtual Conference, 2024
European Group of Organizational Studies, Organizational inequality and Hiring Sub-Theme, Milan, 2024
“Interpreting Labor: Variations in Automation and Meanings of Labor among Emerging Economy Firms.”
European Group of Organizational Studies, Global Technologies Sub-Theme, Athens, 2025 (forthcoming)
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Center “Solving Global Poverty” Conference, Washington D.C., 2024
Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Chicago, 2024
Society for the Advancement of Socio-Economics Annual Meeting, Virtual Conference, 2024
“How Climate-Ed Digital Platforms Transform Professional Understandings of Climate Skills.”
American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, 2025 (forthcoming)
Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, 2025 (forthcoming)
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Workshop on Organizations, Stanford, 2025
“How New ideas Entered US Economics: Analyzing US Economic Dissertations (1980-2015) using Natural Language Processing.”
American Sociological Association Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, 2023
“Competitors in Solidarity: A Field Experiment on Adaptive Skills and Social Cohesion among Emerging Market Entrepreneurs.”
UNDP Human Development Report on Mental Health and Human Development Webinar, New York, 2022
Government of Ethiopia Regional Solutions for Entrepreneurship and Jobs Workshop, Addis-Ababa, 2019
World Bank Human Capital Conference, Washington D.C., 2019
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SUMMER SCHOOL
Medici Summer School, Bologna Business School-MIT-HEC, Bologna, 2024
Ethnographic Atelier Qualitative Methods Winter Workshop, Helsinki/Hybrid, 2024
Theoretical Modeling Summer School, Harvard Business School, Boston, 2023
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TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Stanford University
Seminar on Organization Theory, Ph.D. Elective, Teaching Assistant and Grader, Fall 2025 (Woody Powell)
Leading Environmental Sustainability by Design, MBA and Doerr School of Sustainability Elective, Teaching Assistant, Spring 2024 (Bill Barnett)
Strategic Leadership, MBA Core, Teaching Assistant, Winter 2024 (Jesper Sørensen)
World Bank Executive Education for Public-Sector Capacity
Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Suppliers, Course for INADEM (Public-Sector Agency to Develop High-Impact Entrepreneurship), Government of Mexico, 2016
Global Value Chain Diagnostics, Course for Regional Ministry of Trade and Industry, Government of Chile, 2018
Columbia University
Advanced Macroeconomics, MPA and MBA Core, Teaching Assistant, Spring 2012 (Andrea Bubula)
Corporate Finance, MPA and MBA Core, Teaching Assistant and Grader, Fall 2011 (Deborah McLean)
Mathematics and Economics for Undergrads Program, Tutor, Summer 2011
Bain & Company Pro-Bono Consulting Team
Organizational Design and Leadership, Training for Non-profit Leadership, 2007-2010
Succeeding as a Social Enterprise, Training for Organizations supported by Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Singapore, 2007-2010
Singapore Management University
Microeconomics, University Core, Teaching Assistant and Grader, Fall 2006 (Prof. Tan Swee Liang)
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SERVICE
Stanford Undergraduate Ph.D. Aspirants Mentor, “Why Econ (Sociology)?”, 2025
Stanford Graduate School of Business Ph.D. Admit Day Student Speaker, 2025
Stanford Graduate School of Business Prospective Ph.D. Students Seminar Panelist, 2024
Stanford Graduate Student Mentor, 2022-2025
Occasional Peer Reviewer for Academy of Management, Sociology Compass, 2022-2025
World Bank Hiring Committee Member for the Young Professional Program, 2020
World Bank Latin America COVID-10 Emergency Response Taskforce Member, 2019-2020
Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs Elected Student Representative (Team of 20 Members, Budget of $300,000), 2010-2011
Bain and Company Southeast Asia Pro-bono Consulting Volunteer, Singapore, 2008-2010
Singapore Management University Debate Society Coach, 2004-2006
Singapore Management University Economics e-Journal Editor, 2006
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REFERENCES
Jesper Sørensen, Professor of Organizational Behavior, and (by courtesy) Sociology
Stanford University
+1-650-723-2146
Woody Powell, Professor of Education, and (by courtesy) Sociology, OB, MS&E, and Communication
Stanford University
+1-650-725-7391
Barbara Kiviat, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Stanford University (moving to Columbia University this fall)
+1-650-723-3956
Melissa Valentine, Associate Professor of Management Science & Engineering
Stanford University
+1-650-723-1262
Saumitra Jha, Associate Professor of Political Economy, and (by courtesy), Economics, Political Science
Stanford University
+1-650-723-2146