Maja Schmitz graduated in Business Administration (M.Sc.) from the University of Passau in 2020. Since October 2020, she works as Research Associate and Doctoral Candidate at the Chair of International Management and Social Entrepreneurship. Maja has gained valuable job experience in PR & Marketing, Private Equity, and Employer Branding. During and after her studies she worked for companies, such as The Boston Consulting Group and BMW.
Koziol, K., Schmitz, M., & Bort, S. (2025). Gender differences in entrepreneurial equity financing—a systematic literature review. Small Business Economics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-024-00989-x (VHB: B)
Koziol, K., Schmitz, M., & Bort, S. (2024). Gender Disparities in Entrepreneurial Equity Financing—A Systematic Literature Review. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings,
Chicago. doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2024.10513abstract
Koziol, K., Schmitz, M., & Bort, S. (2024). Gender Disparities in Entrepreneurial Equity Financing—A Systematic Literature Review. Proceedings of the European Academy of Management, Bath. ISBN: 978-2-9602195-6-2
Koziol, K., & Schmitz, M. (2023). Power of Kindred Spirits: The Influence of Gender Stereotype Homophily in Entrepreneurial Pitches. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings,
Boston. doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2023.15276abstract
Koziol, K., & Schmitz, M. (2023). The Power of Kindred Spirits: The Influence of Gender Stereotype Homophily on Investment Intentions in Pitches. Proceedings of the European Academy of Management, Dublin. ISBN: 978-2-9602195-5-5
Awards
Best Paper Award
Schmitz, M., Koziol, K., and Bort, S. (2023, 20 – 21 July). The Impact of Gender Bias on Investment Decision in Entrepreneurial Equity Financing: A Systematic Literature Review. Mannheim Castle Days, Mannheim, Germany.
Kevin Koziol completed his Master's degree in Business Administration (MSc) at the University of Passau in 2020, after which he began working as a Research Assistant at the Chair of International Management and Social Entrepreneurship. In August 2026, he completed his doctoral dissertation on cognitive biases in early-stage investment decisions, earning the highest distinction of 'summa cum laude' under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Suleika Bort. Since then, he has been working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Chair. From 2024 to 2026, he participated in and served as spokesperson for the inaugural cohort of the PYREC (Passau Young Researchers Excellence Centre) Excellence Programme at the University of Passau. He participated in prestigious international conferences such as the Academy of Management and published in internationally renowned journals such as Small Business Economics.
Kevin Koziol has been a member of the PATEC (Passau the Entrepreneurial Campus) project team since September 2021. The project's goal is to develop a comprehensive programme to support start-up initiatives, advise student start-ups, and foster an entrepreneurial mindset at the University of Passau. He also serves as a guest lecturer, teaching courses in the Business Administration programme at Corvinus University in Budapest.
Kevin Koziol has extensive professional experience in sales, leadership and agile project management. During and after his studies, he gained experience working for internationally renowned companies such as Peek & Cloppenburg KG and BMW AG.
Koziol, K., Schmitz, M., & Bort, S. (2025). Gender differences in entrepreneurial equity financing—a systematic literature review. Small Business Economics. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-024-00989-x (VHB: B)
Koziol, K., Schmitz, M., & Bort, S. (2024). Gender Disparities in Entrepreneurial Equity Financing—A Systematic Literature Review. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings, Chicago. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2024.10513abstract
Koziol, K., Schmitz, M., & Bort, S. (2024). Gender Disparities in Entrepreneurial Equity Financing—A Systematic Literature Review. Proceedings of the European Academy of Management, Bath. ISBN: 978-2-9602195-6-2
Koziol, K., & Schmitz, M. (2023). Power of Kindred Spirits: The Influence of Gender Stereotype Homophily in Entrepreneurial Pitches. Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings, Boston. https://doi.org/10.5465/AMPROC.2023.15276abstract
Koziol, K., and Schmitz, M. (2023). The Power of Kindred Spirits: The Influence of Gender Stereotype Homophily on Investment Intentions in Pitches. Proceedings of the European Academy of Management, Dublin. ISBN: 978-2-9602195-5-5
Awards
Helmut-Schmalen Prize for an Outstanding Dissertation
Eva Katharina Donner graduated in Economics (M.Sc.) from the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena in 2014. Since October 2014 she is the executive assistant to the Administrative Director of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. Furthermore, she is lecturer at the University of Cooperative Education in Leipzig for World Economy and Risk Management. Since 2020 she is external doctoral candidate at the University of Passau and focuses her research on organizational change caused by the claim to increase transparency. Katharina gained valuable job experience in company organization, scientific and strategic management.
Lena Murawski graduated in Business Management (M.Sc.) with focus on human resources from Chemnitz University of Technology in 2018. Since April 2019, she works as an External Doctoral Candidate at the Chair of International Management and Social Entrepreneurship. Her current research interests include entrepreneurial orientation with a focus on employee entrepreneurial behavior and gamification. Lena Murawski has gained valuable job experience in Entrepreneurship and Human Resources. During and after her studies she worked in different companies such as KPMG AG, SonarSource GmbH, and OBI GmbH & Co. KG.
Best Presentation Award at 23rd International Conference on Sustainable Business and Entrepreneurship
Pia Cardone holds an M.Sc. in Management & Organization Studies from Chemnitz University of Technology, specializing in organizational studies and human resource management. She subsequently worked as a research associate and lecturer at the university, where she completed her doctorate in 2020.
Her research focused on the reproduction of social inequalities in organizational contexts, particularly how social categories create boundaries in professional environments, how societal and organizational dynamics interact, and how these processes affect employees' experiences, opportunities, and professional performance.
Since 2021, she has been working at ASPICON, a specialized IT service provider delivering innovative solutions for business-critical data platforms and IT infrastructures. Combining deep technical expertise with a strong commitment to reliability and long-term partnerships, ASPICON helps organizations build resilient and future-ready IT environments.
Today, Pia serves as Head of HR and Authorized Signatory at ASPICON, contributing to strategic management, organizational development, and the company's continued growth. Her work combines academic insights into organizational dynamics with the practical challenges of building a high-performing, people-centered technology company.
