Dr. Wolfgang Spiess-Knafl studied management engineering at the University of Technology in Vienna with two academic years spent at PUC Rio de Janeiro and INSA Rouen. After completing his studies, he worked in the Investment Banking Division of Morgan Stanley. He later earned his doctorate on the topic of “Financing of Social Enterprises” at the Chair of Entrepreneurial Finance at the Technical University of Munich. Until 2016, he served as a post-doc at the Civil Society Center and the Chair of Strategic Organization and Financing at Zeppelin University in Friedrichshafen, focusing on Social Finance, Impact Investing, and Social Innovation.
Since 2016 he worked on the development of the social finance market for the European Commission and FEBEA, conducted studies on social finance for the Association of German Foundations, NEOS Lab and European Liberal Forum among others. He has authored studies on Social Finance for organizations such as the Federal Association of German Foundations, the European Parliament, and the European Liberal Forum. Additionally, he is a co-author of a book on “Impact Investing,” published by Palgrave Macmillan. Since 2019, he has been part of the European Center for Social Finance at Munich Business School. In 2022, his book on “Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain for Social Impact” was published.
ACADEMIC JOURNAL
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Parola, G., Spiess-Knafl, W., & Thaler, J. (2022). The Butterfly Effect: How Academics’ and Practitioners’ Micro-practices Shape Turning Points in Response to Paradox. Academy of Management Learning & Education. https://doi.org/10.5465/amle.2021.0235
ACADEMIC REFERENCE BOOK
Spiess-Knafl, W., & Scheck, B. (2023). Impact Investing: Instruments, Mechanisms and Actors (2nd ed.). Palgrave Macmillan Cham. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32183-2
Spiess-Knafl, W. (2022). Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain for Social Impact: Social Business Models and Impact Finance. Routledge. doi.org/10.4324/9781003218913
ACADEMIC REFERENCE BOOK ARTICLE
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Achleitner, A. K., Lutz, E., Mayer, J., & Spiess-Knafl, W. (2022). Disentangling Gut Feeling: Assessing the Integrity of Social Entrepreneurs. In C. Lütge, M. Thejls Ziegler (eds) Evolving Business Ethics. Wirtschaftsethik in der globalisierten Welt. J.B. Metzler. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-476-05845-4_5
ACADEMIC CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
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Parola, G., & Spiess-Knafl, W. (2020, February 5). Putting a man in the labour market: Academic-practitioner collaborations in career management. Kolloquium des Forschungsschwerpunkts Management öffentlicher Aufgaben, Universität der Bundeswehr München, Neubiberg, Deutschland.
WORKING PAPERS / REPORTS
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Spiess-Knafl, W., & Gasparini, G.-L. (2023). Climate Finance for Ethical Banking: The Integration of Environmental Concerns in Social Aspects. FEBEA Research Paper #3, FEBEA - the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers.
Spiess-Knafl, W., & Gasparini, G.-L. (2023). The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Social Finance. FEBEA Research Paper #1, FEBEA - the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers.
Spiess-Knafl, W., & Gasparini, G.-L. (2023). The Role of Blockchain in Social Finance. FEBEA Research Paper #2, FEBEA - the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks and Financiers.
Haarich, S., Holstein, F., Spule, S., Galera, G., Franchini, B., Borzaga, C., Chiomento, S., Scheck, B., Spiess-Knafl, W., & Salvatori, G. (2020). Impact of the European Commission’s Social Business Initiative (SBI) and its Follow-up Actions. Study for DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission.
Scheck, B., Spiess-Knafl, W. (2020). Impact investing in the framework of business and human rights. Working Paper, European Union, Policy Department, Directorate-General for External Policies. doi.org/10.2861/47607
Spiess-Knafl, W., & Scheck, B. (2020). Social Enterprise Finance Market. Analysis and Recommendations for Delivery Options. Brussels. European Commission, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. doi.org/10.2767/238479
Scheck, B., & Spiess-Knafl, W. (2018). Von der Projektwirkung zur Stiftungswirkung. Working Paper Munich Business School/Universität Witten/Herdecke.
Spiess-Knafl, W. (2023, September 28). Blockchain for Good. allimpact.substack.com/p/blockchain-for-good
Scheck, B., & Spiess-Knafl, W. (2018, June 5). Wirkung von Stiftungen: Eine multidimensionale Betrachtung [The Impact of Foundations: A Multidimensional Examination]. MBS Business Blog. www.munich-business-school.de/insights/2018/wirkung-stiftungen/
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