Ira Lawrence Cohen

Ira Lawrence Cohen, PhD 高艾礼: In 2018, Dr. Cohen returned from a 29-year residency in the People’s Republic of China. His time in China included being the Director & Executive VP of Universal Ideas Consultants Corp. For the past 8 years, Professor Cohen has been engaged as a Sessional Lecturer at the University of Windsor, Odette School of Business (OSB). Courses of instruction within the Master of Management Program include International Business and Strategy Management. Undergrad instruction includes: Entrepreneurship, International Business, Training & Development. From 2020-2023, Sessional Lecturer at the University of Toronto, Centre for Entrepreneurship facilitating non-business undergrads ‘Innovation & Entrepreneurship’. Visiting Instructor in India, co-teaching Family Entrepreneurship within the Chitkara U.-OSB joint program.

His areas of specialization include entrepreneurship, SME start-ups and operations, and market research. Ira is recognized as a thought leader in the field of ‘action learning’ with global expertise in the design and execution of leadership development networking and benchmarking interventions. His private consulting practice facilitates solving business challenges and developing future generations of leadership.

Dr. Cohen was appointed (2024-2025) UoW Jewish Student Support Advisor, and (2023-2025) Odette Debate Club Coach. Contracted by the City of Windsor (2024-2026) as a Member of the Board, Windsor-Detroit (Borderlink) Tunnel Corporation. Member of the UoW Anti-Racism Strategic Plan Advisory Council.

Ira is the recipient of the 2022 Global Forum Robert Dilworth Award for Exceptional Contribution to Transformational Change, Leadership Development and Business Driven Action Learning. Cohen also received the ‘Global Research Excellence Award’ from the World Institute for Action Learning, and the CCH ‘Special Award for Outstanding Contribution to HR in China and Hong Kong.”

Dr. Cohen holds a BA and MA in Communication Arts, Postgraduate Diploma in International Business Management, Executive MBA from RUTGERS University in International Business Management, and PhD with a dissertation focus solving the business challenges and developing the competencies of entrepreneurs through the application of action learning.