As part of this milestone conference—the first AMA Winter Academic Conference to be hosted in Europe—DocSIG is thrilled to introduce a brand-new initiative: the DocSIG Global Colloquium.
In response to the growing demand for mentorship, expert methods training, high-quality publishing guidance, and meaningful peer networking among doctoral students, this event marks a major step forward in expanding DocSIG’s presence and programming to support PhD scholars worldwide.
We aim to provide early-career researchers with robust support as they navigate coursework, develop dissertation ideas, prepare for the job market, and transition into their academic careers. Attendees will leave the colloquium with a clearer understanding of how to address the challenges they face, practical tools for building a successful scholarly trajectory, and a global network of mentors and peers.
This event will take place on Friday, February 13, 2026, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the 2026 AMA Winter Academic Conference.
Key Benefits for Doctoral Students
- Mentorship Opportunities: Intimate, structured sessions with experienced faculty who will address your questions one-on-one regarding different stages of the PhD journey.
- Expert Workshop: A hands-on session led by leading scholars.
- Panel on Publishing: A cross-continental discussion featuring senior faculty sharing insights on publishing in top marketing journals.
Registration
Free with Winter AMA conference registration
Private Breakfast Included
Limited seats are available—please register as early as possible. Once we reach full capacity, registration will close. For any questions, please contact Ishita Nagpal at inagpal1@gsu.edu.
To register for the DocSIG Global Colloquium , please complete both the steps:
Step 1: Register for the 2026 Winter AMA Conference here.
Step 2: Register for the DocSIG Global Colloquium here
Faculty Ambassadors
DocSIG is proud to collaborate with our distinguished faculty ambassadors, Prof. Amber Epp, Associate Professor of Marketing and Wilbur Dickson-Bascom Professor in Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Business and Associate Editor for the Journal of Marketing and Prof. Katrijn Gielens, Professor of Marketing at Tilburg University’s School of Economics and Management, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Retailing, and Associate Editor at the Journal of Marketing to make this event a success for doctoral students.
Amber Epp
Amber Epp is an Associate Professor of Marketing and Wilbur Dickson-Bascom Professor in Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Business. Amber’s research advances an interdisciplinary perspective of the relationship between family and the marketplace. In particular, she studies how families evaluate and make sense of their choices within the broader cultural context. Her work has been published in Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Service Research, Journal of Retailing, and she has co-authored book chapters on qualitative data analysis, family consumption behavior, and assemblage theory. She also serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Marketing, sits on the editorial review boards for JCR, JPPM, and JSR, and serves on the AMA Academic Council.
Katrijin Gielens
Katrijn Gielens is Professor of Marketing at Tilburg University’s School of Economics and Management. Her research bridges marketing strategy, retailing, and quantitative modeling to uncover how firms create and sustain advantage through branding, channel design, and retail innovation. Her work has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Marketing, Marketing Science, Journal of Retailing and the International Journal of Research in Marketing. She currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Retailing and Associate Editor at the Journal of Marketing.
Doctoral Student Organizers – DocSIG Leadership
The DocSIG Global Colloquium is organized by dedicated doctoral student leaders who are committed to creating meaningful programming, mentorship opportunities, and community support for PhD students worldwide.
Ishita Nagpal
Ishita Nagpal is a PhD student in Marketing at the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University. Her research is centered at the intersection of marketing strategy and the social impact of marketing, with a strong focus on how strategic marketing decisions can drive meaningful societal outcomes. At GSU, she teaches Social Media Marketing to undergrad students and Social Media Intelligence to graduate students, bringing a blend of academic insight and real-world application to the classroom.
Deeply committed to uplifting the doctoral student community, Ishita has been actively involved with AMA DocSIG for over three years. Her leadership and dedication to service have been recognized with the Outstanding Service Award at Georgia State University.
Zahra (Safa) Karami
Zahra (Safa) Karami, born in Tehran, is a 3rd-year Marketing PhD student at the University of Wyoming. She earned her BBA in Business Administration and MBA in Marketing in Karachi. With 15+ years of international sales and marketing experience, she now focuses her research on sales and entrepreneurship. Safa serves as Chair-Elect (2026–27) of AMA DocSIG, dedicated to fostering community and supporting doctoral students in the US and beyond. She speaks English, Farsi, Hindi (Urdu), and some Arabic. Beyond academia, she enjoys cultural exchange, travel, and sharing Persian-inspired cooking and baking with friends.
Friday, February 13
Below is the Tentative Program Schedule
Session 1: DocSIG–Sheth Foundation Mentors Breakfast
Kickstart your morning with focused, small-group mentoring conversations led by world-class faculty.
Session 2: Expert Workshop
Gain actionable insights and hands-on guidance from a leading expert on navigating the PhD and research journey.
Session 3: Publishing Panel
Learn what it truly takes to publish in top journals—from scholars who shape the field.
Speaker announcements coming soon!
We look forward to revealing the leading scholars who will join us for this year’s mentorship, methods, and publishing sessions.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our long-standing sponsor, the Sheth Foundation, for generously sponsoring the DocSIG–Sheth Foundation Mentor’s Breakfast.Their continued support plays a vital role in empowering doctoral students and strengthening our global community.
