This fall, the Lally School of Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute welcomes Dr. Mi (Kelly) Hoang Tran, an inspiring scholar whose research and teaching intersect powerfully with Lally’s mission to shape ethical, entrepreneurial, and technically-grounded leaders.
A Researcher at the Intersection of Neurodiversity and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Tran joins Lally from Syracuse University, where she earned her MBA and Ph.D. from the Whitman School of Management. Her research breaks new ground by focusing on neurodiversity in entrepreneurship. She studies how cognitive differences, especially ADHD, influence entrepreneurial intention, behavior, and outcomes. This is an area that remains underrepresented in mainstream business research.
Kelly's work is especially innovative in its examination of how gender and racial identities intersect with neurodivergence. “Women entrepreneurs with ADHD face double the stereotyping. Both around gender and cognitive traits,” she explains. “I want to help shift the narrative so these differences are seen as strengths, not limitations.”
Her current projects include an ambitious study on startup-level neurodiversity. She is exploring how the cognitive diversity of founding teams shapes venture outcomes. This work promises meaningful implications for policymakers, venture capitalists, and support organizations that aim to foster inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems.
A Teaching Philosophy Rooted in Real-World Application
In the classroom, Dr. Tran is equally passionate. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes experiential and inclusive learning. Whether students are exploring case studies, crafting business models, or conducting market research with real customers, her goal is clear. She wants students to connect theory to practice.
“I want my students to develop entrepreneurial mindsets and problem-solving skills they can use in any career, not just startups,” she says. Her students don’t just learn to build business plans. They learn to think critically, collaborate creatively, and identify opportunities in everyday challenges.
Dr. Tran also prioritizes representation and access in her courses. She includes examples and case studies that reflect a wide range of identities and backgrounds, ensuring all students see themselves in the content and feel encouraged to participate. For those hesitant to speak in class, she creates low-pressure opportunities for engagement through discussion boards and written reflections.
Where Research Meets Opportunity
RPI’s strong entrepreneurship ecosystem, technical orientation, and collaborative research culture drew Dr. Tran to Lally. “Lally students are motivated and entrepreneurial. Many have STEM backgrounds and want to make real impact. That’s exciting to me,” she says.
She’s also enthusiastic about joining Lally’s vibrant faculty. “The faculty here are productive, passionate, and publish in top-tier journals. It’s rare to see that level of research activity in a school this size. I look forward to collaborating across disciplines.”
Beyond academics, RPI’s location in upstate New York felt like a perfect fit. After years in Syracuse, Kelly was eager to stay in the region and explore new communities. She plans to relocate to the Capital District this summer.
Looking Ahead
As she joins the Lally community, Dr. Tran hopes to contribute not just through research and teaching, but also by mentoring students. Especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. “I want to empower students who might not see themselves in entrepreneurship to believe in their ideas and take action,” she says.
Outside the classroom, you might find her hiking in state parks, exploring new international TV series, or listening to her favorite podcast, “How I Built This,” which explores the stories of startup founders. “I listen to it every day. I love hearing how people turn challenges into innovation.”
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Mi (Kelly) Hoang Tran to the Lally School of Management and look forward to the impact she will make on our students, research, and community.