Her path to academia was not a straightforward one. After earning her master’s degree from Copenhagen Business School, she spent five years in the industry to ensure that an academic career was truly what she wanted.
Coming from Denmark, a country known for its gender equality, Naja was surprised to find that opportunities for women in entrepreneurship were not as universal as she had assumed. “That’s where my research interest in female entrepreneurship began,” she explains. “Entrepreneurship itself is fascinating because it’s about the birth of new organisations—it’s dynamic, constantly evolving. I love talking to entrepreneurs on the ground and seeing ideas take shape.”
Her research now focuses on encouraging more women to pursue entrepreneurial training, with broader implications for policy and business education.
When choosing a PhD programme, Naja knew she wanted to study at a top business school in Europe. Already living in France with her husband, INSEAD felt like a natural fit. “I feel very European, and INSEAD’s global reputation and strong European base made it the perfect choice for me,” she says.
Pursuing a PhD is a demanding journey, but doing so while starting a family adds another layer of complexity. INSEAD, however, provided the support she needed. “INSEAD offers six months of maternity leave per child, which is incredibly generous in academia,” she shares. “Fontainebleau is also a great place to raise a family—affordable, safe, and surrounded by nature.”
One of INSEAD’s key strengths is its dual-campus structure, and for Naja, this has meant working closely with faculty across continents. “My advisor is based in Singapore, but INSEAD has long operated with a strong virtual collaboration setup—even before the pandemic,” she explains. “We meet in person when he visits Fontainebleau, but most of our work happens over Zoom, and it functions seamlessly.”
Naja’s research has taken her beyond the confines of academia. She started attending entrepreneurial events in Paris early in her PhD journey, immersing herself in the startup ecosystem to refine her research ideas. Over time, her interests expanded to emerging markets, leading her to conduct fieldwork in India.
“India has one of the most active entrepreneurial ecosystems in the world,” she says. “It’s fascinating to study how policies, incubation centers, and local challenges shape entrepreneurship. Doing fieldwork there has been incredibly enriching.”
When Naja began her fieldwork in India, she reached out to INSEAD’s alumni network, hoping for a few introductions. What she found was overwhelming support. “The first people I met in India were INSEAD alumni. They introduced me to others, which snowballed into an incredible network,” she says. “That generosity—whether from faculty, MBA graduates, or executive education participants—is what makes INSEAD truly special.”
For those considering a PhD, Naja emphasises three essential qualities: curiosity, passion, and persistence. “You need to be curious about how the world works, passionate about your research, and persistent because the journey is long and challenging,” she advises.
She also stresses that a PhD is not for everyone. “People sometimes think they can do a PhD part-time, but that’s simply not possible. It’s a full-time commitment, and you have to be prepared for the uncertainties—where you’ll get a job, where you’ll live. It’s not just about academic fit; it’s about personal fit, too.”
As Naja nears the end of her PhD journey, she hopes to continue her academic career in France or London but remains open to opportunities worldwide. One thing is certain—her connection to INSEAD will remain strong. “It’s impossible not to stay connected. Whether through collaborations with my advisor, my committee, or other PhD alumni, INSEAD is a lifelong network.”
For Naja, INSEAD has been more than just a place to earn a PhD—it has been a community, a global hub of ideas, and a launchpad for impactful research that bridges academia and the real world.