Zhibo Qiu
Research Affiliate
- Zhibo.Qiu.DPHIL2017@said.oxford.edu
Saïd Business School
University of Oxford
Park End Street
Oxford
OX1 1HP
Profile
Zhibo is a Research Affiliate in Strategic Management and International Business at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chinese International Investments at Lau China Institute, King’s College London.
Zhibo’s expertise is in business-government relations, corporate political strategy, and global strategy.
Zhibo holds a double bachelor’s degree (with distinction) in international Politics from Peking University in China and Waseda University in Japan, an M.Phil. in Development Studies from the University of Cambridge and an M.A. in International Affairs from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, and a D.Phil. in Management from the University of Oxford. She also studied at the University of Hong Kong, George Washington University, and Tsinghua University.
At Saïd Business School, Zhibo conducted her doctoral research under the joint supervision of Professor Eric Thun and Professor Mari Sako. She is a continuing member of Green Templeton College.
Prior to joining the University of Oxford, Zhibo had accumulated years of professional experience in both the private and public sectors. She served as a communication and campaign manager at the British Embassy in Beijing, organising major public events (eg the London Olympics, the GREAT Campaign, and then Prime Minister David Cameron’s state visit) and promoting UK business interests in China. Zhibo then worked as a strategic communication and government relations consultant, helping European and American multinationals navigate the political landscape in China. Her clients included industrial leaders such as Shell, Honeywell, ABB, Eastman, and EY. In New York, Zhibo served as a policy consultant for the United Nations Headquarters, focusing on social and economic affairs, including the strategic framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Expertise:
- Business-government relations
- Corporate political strategy
- Global strategy
- Chinese international investments
- Leadership and decision-making
- Strategic communication
Research
Zhibo’s interdisciplinary academic background converges at the intersection of politics and business, particularly within the context of geopolitical uncertainty. Centred around the geopolitical implications of global business, her research falls into three themes: business-government relations, industrial policy, and political leadership.
Zhibo’s current research focuses on Chinese multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) strategic responses to the national security concerns of Western governments. She has conducted in-depth fieldwork to investigate Chinese MNEs’ political capabilities in overseas markets. Her doctoral dissertation was honoured as a finalist for the 2023 Academy of International Business (AIB) Best Dissertation Award.
Zhibo has published her articles in Foreign Policy, The Diplomat, and China Brief. She offers timely and practical consultation on industry and policy trends for business leaders and policymakers.
Publications
Qiu, Zhibo. 2023. Chinese Firms’ Corporate Political Capabilities in Overseas Markets. AIB Insights, 23(5).
Qiu, Zhibo. 2018. How PRC Diplomatic Messaging Impedes Its Foreign Policy Objectives, China Brief, 18(8).
Qiu, Zhibo. 2017. China’s Outdated Foreign Service Needs Rebooting for the Age of Trump, Foreign Policy.
Qiu, Zhibo. 2016. Trump’s Presidency: The View from China. The Diplomat.
Qiu, Zhibo. 2016. China’s Ongoing ‘Political Correctness’ Campaign. The Diplomat.
Qiu, Zhibo. 2015. The impact of SOE reform on Chinese overseas investment. China Brief, 15(2).
Qiu, Zhibo. 2015. Political Centralisation Drives Upcoming Industrial Consolidation. China Brief, 15(7).
Qiu, Zhibo. 2015. From Game Player to Game Maker: News Features of China’s Foreign Policy, China Brief, 15(14).
Qiu, Zhibo. 2015. The ‘Triple Win’: Beijing’s Blueprint for International Industrial Capacity Cooperation. China Brief, 15(18).
Qiu, Zhibo. 2015. From Academia to Politics: When Scholars Rule China. China Brief,15(23).
Teaching
Zhibo teaches on a number of modules and programmes, including Chinese International Investments, Strategic Management, and Global Business.
Her teaching experiences span undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA, Executive MBA, and other executive programmes, covering various formats such as lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, and dissertation supervision.
Social Media
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