About Dr Emilio Costales

With a passion for understanding urban life from the ground up, I use diverse research methods, from ethnographic fieldwork to participant-engaged photographic analysis to systematic reviews, to examine how social ventures can shrink the gap between public participation and socioeconomically disadvantaged demographics. Ultimately, the goal of my research is to dissect the role of Social Innovation in the development of Smart Cities and inform policy decisions for inclusive, sustainable, and liveable urban development. 

My work sits at the intersection of business, social innovation, and urban development, and incorporates Systems theory, Sociomateriality, and the ethics-based framework of Ordonomics to examine Business’ role in systems change and to answer the question: how can entrepreneurship make cities work better for everyone?

My journey spans continents and disciplines. I began teaching financial literacy in New York City while earning my Economics degree from Penn State, then moved to the UK where I completed my MSc in Sustainable Development at Royal Holloway and later my PhD in Business and Management. Along the way, I’ve worked with local NGOs, supported student ventures securing up to £50,000 in funding, and contributed to research projects worth over £1 million, spanning countries such as South Africa, India, Zambia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Uganda. Currently, I work as a consultant for the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme, developing training workshops for practitioners in Small Island Developing States working on the frontline of climate change.

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, an active member of the Academy of Management, and a Fellow of the Ivey Sustainability Academy.