Donald Roy Lessard

Donald R. Lessard is the Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management, Emeritus, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He advises companies, governments, and universities and continues his research on global strategic management and large-scale project management. Lessard joined the MIT faculty in 1973 after three years at Dartmouth’s Amos Tuck School. At MIT, he has taught international financial management and global strategy, and has led numerous academic and executive programs. He served as Deputy Dean of the Sloan School with responsibilities for research, international programs, and executive education. He was cochair of the MIT Energy Education Task Force that launched the Institute-wide undergraduate energy minor, for which he was recognized as Class of 1960 Professor. He also was the founding faculty director of the MIT Executive MBA and pioneered its signature GO-Lab. A leader in international management education, Lessard has served as President of the Academy of International Business and Dean of the Fellows of the Academy. In 2014 he received the Pathfinder Award from the Engineering Projects Organization Society for his lifetime contributions to the field. Lessard has led major consulting assignments with firms, banks, and government agencies throughout the world. He currently is a member of the Advisory Board of 4DPath. Lessard earned his BA in Latin American studies and his MBA and PhD in business administration from Stanford University.

Donald Lessard is a Professor of International Management Emeritus at MIT Sloan School and a Distinguished Visiting Professor. His research focuses on Sustainability, global strategy, and major projects. He explores the strategic management of large engineering projects, the impact of exchange rates on corporate operations, and the role of international diversification in risk reduction. His work also addresses country risk, financial intermediation, and the dynamics of multinational corporations. Lessard's research emphasizes the interplay between global economic factors and corporate strategy, particularly in the context of complex infrastructure projects and international portfolio diversification.