David Maslach
Founder, R3ciprocity Project
Associate Professor of Innovation and Strategy
About
Dr. David Maslach's journey from a small town in Northern Ontario to academia is marked by resilience and a commitment to transforming challenges into opportunities. Growing up in a rural setting, he faced educational hurdles. He spent most of his elementary school in Special Education classes. His Dad was a Polish immigrant and Mom the Daughter of a WWII Vet. He was the first in his family to attend university. University was viewed as only for the privileged. These experiences instilled in him a deep understanding of the struggles associated with learning and failure...

The inspiration for R3ciprocity came from a drive home from Disney. With kids sitting in the back seat of the car, he thought "there had to be a better way to do research." Inspired by his experiences as a software developer in chemical process industry, he thought "the production of research" is just a design problem of a messy process. If we can transform raw materials into refined products, why can't we do that in the production of research?


His research focuses on learning and decision-making within organizations, particularly in the medical device and digital sectors. He employs large datasets to address complex issues and has taught courses in Strategy, Organizational Theory, Research Methods, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship at various academic levels. Dr. Maslach serves on the editorial boards of the Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, and Strategic Organization. He is also the Secretary of the Strategy Division in the Academy of Management and co-founded the Carnegie School of Organizational Learning conference. His work has been published in outlets such as Harvard Business Review, Journal of Management Inquiry, Journal of Management, Journal of World Business, Management Science, Organization Science, R&D Management, and Strategic Management Journal.


Dr. Maslach holds a Ph.D. in Strategy from the Ivey School of Business at Western University. He also earned degrees in Chemical Engineering and Sociology, and Management Science from the University of Waterloo. His professional experience includes roles in scientific programming and public policy within the healthcare sector. He founded the Ivey Medical Technology Innovation conference and served as the Waterloo Chapter President of Engineers Without Borders.


Currently, Dr. Maslach is dedicated to developing r3ciprocity.com, a platform aimed at providing support and resources to researchers worldwide. Through this initiative, he engages as a social influencer, discussing topics related to research, entrepreneurship, innovation, and strategy. The R3ciprocity Project has reached millions across various platforms, with the goal of improving the lives of 100 million researchers by the time he turns 50.

 Read more