Dr Neil Shepherd
Senior Lecturer in StrategyResearch Overview
Neil is a Chartered Accountant, and prior to pursuing an academic career he worked for KPMG in London, in both their advisory and audit practices. He joined Lancaster University Management School in November 2022, and previously he held the post of Senior Lecturer in Strategy at Aston Business School in Birmingham.
Neil is focused on theoretically and methodologically rigorous empirical research, drawing on the domains of organizational, social, and cognitive psychology. Specifically, Neil's research is focused on the psychology of strategic management, and the analysis of social and cognitive processes during strategic decision making and strategy implementation.
Neil's current funded research on "Generative AI and Strategic Foresight in SMEs" places him at the forefront of a critical and emerging field. An emerging area of Neil's research and engagement activities is the advancement and representation of women in the mergers and acquisitions profession.
Current Teaching
A Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) who has mentored five colleagues in attaining FHEA and SFHEA status. Neil is an award winning teacher with extensive experience of teaching strategy related subjects to executive, MBA, MSc, and UG audiences. Neil is committed to teaching excellence and curriculum innovation, evidenced by outstanding student feedback, multiple teaching awards, and a track record of transforming the student experience. Neil has extensive experience directing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including joint honours degrees, and has led both new programme launches and re-launches.Neil has taught courses on strategic management, scenario planning, behavioral strategy, managing strategic change, corporate strategy, mergers & acquisitions, strategic leadership, and consultancy.
External Roles
External Examiner for Imperial College London's MBA programme.
Professional Role
Neil is the Doctoral Director for the Entrepreneurship & Strategy Department at Lancaster University Management School, and is a member of the departmental leadership team. Neil also chairs the Lancaster University Management School Income Generation Group.
Neil's previous leadership experience demonstrates a broad range of capabilities. He has directed doctoral programmes (DBA Director, Doctoral Work-in-Progress Convenor), led student recruitment initiatives, and driven strategy for business partnerships and community engagement. Prior to his academic career, Neil led multi-million-pound, cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
PhD Supervision Interests
I would love to hear from prospective PhD students interested in topics such as the underrepresentation of women in mergers and acquisitions, strategic decision making, the psychology of strategy, behavioral strategy, upper echelons theory, top management teams, and strategy implementation.
Missing from the Table: Women’s Underrepresentation in Mergers & Acquisitions
01/10/2025 → …
Research
Strategic Foresight in SMEs: How Generative AI can Secure SME Growth and Survival
01/05/2025 → 30/04/2026
Research
Generative AI and Strategic Foresight in SMEs
27/03/2025 → 31/03/2026
Research
AI-Driven Analytics with Managerial Judgment in SMEs
03/03/2025 → 05/03/2027
Research
Centre for Technological Futures