Research
My research examines the intersection of entrepreneurship and motivational processes. I study how individuals and teams initiate, sustain, and adapt entrepreneurial efforts under uncertainty — how founders choose goals, form teams, coordinate effort, implement creative ideas, respond to feedback, and revise their venture paths over time.
Clark, K., Lazar, M., Chen, G., & Goldfarb, B. Promoting gains or preventing losses? The effect of regulatory focus on implementing creative business ideas in new venture teams.
Resubmitted, 1st-round R&R at Organization Science
Creativity alone often isn't enough — novel ideas are hard to implement under uncertainty. We show how venture-level regulatory focus shapes whether entrepreneurial teams carry creative ideas forward into action.
Clark, K., & Chen, G. The motivational underpinnings of entrepreneurial teams. In P. Ackerman & M. Beier (Eds.), Motivation and self-regulation at work: A celebration of the life and contributions of Ruth Kanfer.
Under review · Expected 2027
A handbook chapter using core motivation theories — goal setting, self-determination, expectancy-value — to explain phenomena across the venture creation process as a dynamic sequence of goal choice, striving, and adjustment.
Clark, K., Chen, G., & Lazar, M. Learning to pivot: How psychological ownership shapes outcomes in new ventures.
Dissertation proposal
The same attachment that motivates founders to persist can make it hard for them to revise their ideas. I study how psychological ownership of a venture's business idea shapes teams' responses to ambiguous feedback, and how learning goal orientation determines whether that ownership becomes defensiveness or adaptive change.
Lazar, M., Clark, K., Chen, G., Goldfarb, B., & Agarwal, R. Entrepreneurial team adaptation.
Third study — data collection
A dynamic model of founding team formation. Teams can compensate for their initial strategy — adding relational strength when they began with resource seeking, or instrumental capacity when they began with interpersonal attraction.
Clark, K., & Derfler-Rozin, R. Shame on you? How shaming and pride-inducing strategies impact corporate charitable behavior.
Reworking Study 1
How different social-emotional appeals shape whether organizations engage in prosocial and charitable behavior.