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Javid Nafari

PhD Student

ACADEMIC AREA
Human Resources and Management

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Marginalized Entrepreneurs; Social Entrepreneurship; Trauma; Intrapreneurship; Business Incubation

SUPERVISOR(S)
Benson Honig

EMAIL
nafarij@mcmaster.ca

OFFICE
A210 & TAB 104H

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Biography

Javid Nafari is a PhD candidate in Business Administration, studying entrepreneurship and its transformative role in fostering resilience and autonomy within equity-deserving communities. His doctoral research focuses on the intersection of entrepreneurship, social transformation, and systemic inequities.

Javid serves as the Chief Operations Officer at Reframery, a virtual incubator supporting entrepreneurs across Kenya, Poland, the United States, Brazil, and Canada. In this role, he oversees operations, leads longitudinal qualitative research, and develops training modules tailored to diverse communities, including immigrants, refugees, seniors, and other equity-deserving individuals. He also contributes to Reframery’s efforts in establishing partnerships globally and securing grants to sustain and support Reframery’s values and missions.

At McMaster University, he has designed and taught multiple courses in entrepreneurship and human resources management (e.g., Multidisciplinary Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Strategic HRM) for undergraduate and graduate students. In his role at Reframery, Javid has co-led the development and delivery of tailored training programs across Canada, Poland, Kenya, and the U.S. His teaching approach prioritizes accessibility, relevance, and adaptability, ensuring students and participants receive an inclusive and impactful learning experience.

Committed to academic integrity and community engagement, Javid has contributed to McMaster as an ethics reviewer and has been recognized with awards for Academic Leadership and Community Engagement.

Publications

Peer-reviewed Journal Publications

  • Nafari, J., Honig, B., & Siqueira, A. (2024). Promoting Academic Social Intrapreneurship: Developing an International Virtual Incubator and Fostering Social Impact. Technovation.
  • Nafari, J., Arab, A., & Ghaffari, S. (2017). Through the Looking Glass: Analysis of Factors Influencing Iranian Student’s Study Abroad Motivations and Destination Choice. SAGE Open, 7(2), 2158244017716711.
  • Ghaffari, S., Arab, A., Nafari, J., & Manteghi, M. (2017). Investigation and Evaluation of Key Success Factors in Technological Innovation Development Based on BWM. Decision Science Letters, 6(3), 295-306.

Book Chapter

  • Honig, B., & Nafari, J. (2025). Unraveling the ethical dilemmas of research in entrepreneurship: A comprehensive analysis. In Handbook of research methods and applications in entrepreneurship and small business (2nd ed.). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Manuscripts Under Review

  • Nafari, J., & Ruebottom, T. (Under Review-3rd round). A Trauma-Informed Approach: Temporal Reorientation, Identity Reconstruction and Preventing Retraumatization in Refugee Entrepreneurship Support. International Small Business Journal (Q1, ABDC-A).
  • Siqueira, A. C. O., Honig, B., & Nafari, J. (Under Review-3rd round). Creating Opportunities for Inclusive Innovation via Entrepreneurial Ingenuity. Journal of Business Research (Q1, ABDC-A).

Work in Progress

  • Nafari, J., Honig, B., Kwesiga, E, & Ruebottom, T. “Entrepreneurial emancipation and autonomy through a Freirean lens: Case of bar hostesses in Kenya.” (Submitting to a [Q1, ABDC-A*] journal in Jan. 2025- Already submitted to AOM 2025 Conference).

Conference Proceedings

  • Nafari, J., Honig, B., (2024). Inclusive Dynamics: Necessity Entrepreneurship and Its Pivotal Role in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. Presented at International Council for Small Business (ICSB) 2024.
  • Nafari, J., Honig, B., Siqueira, A. (2023). Promoting University Intrapreneurship: Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ingenuity and Implications for Social Intrapreneurship. Presented at Conference of Research in Entrepreneurship, Education and Technology (CREET) 2023.
  • Honig, B., & Nafari, J., Kwesiga, E. (2023). Supporting Marginalized Kenyan Sex Workers with a Virtual Incubator. Presented at The Management and Social Justice Conference 2023.
  • Siqueira, A., Honig, B., Nafari, J. (2022). Entrepreneurial Ingenuity Enabled by Information Technology: Insights for Women Entrepreneurship. Presented at The 82nd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2022, No. 1, p. 12949).
  • Siqueira, A., Honig, B., Nafari, J. (2021). Minority Women Entrepreneurs, Social Capital, and Entrepreneurial Ingenuity: The Role of Commons Innovative Financial Strategies. The 17th Annual Social Entrepreneurship Conference.
  • Kith, S., Hewitt, S., Nafari, J., (2023). Do employee vulnerabilities predict their reluctant stay at an organization? CPA’s 84th Annual National Convention.