Sourabh Aggarwal, MAS, MET, PhD

Sourabh Aggarwal, MAS, Ph.D. Candidate, headshot

Instructor – Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics

EDUCATION

  • Ph.D. in Management (Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship) – IAE Business School, Universidad Austral, Argentina (Triple-Crown Accredited: AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS)
  • Master of Educational Technology (MET) (AI, Digital Pedagogy & Entrepreneurship) – The University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada
  • Master of Administrative Science (MAS) in Computer Security & Forensic Administration (Corporate Security and Law Enforcement) – Fairleigh Dickinson University, Vancouver Campus, Canada
  • Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science & Engineering – Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Dr. Sourabh Aggarwal is a cybersecurity professional, educator and scholar-practitioner with expertise in cybersecurity operations, digital forensics, data privacy and compliance, cloud security, and AI-driven cyber defence. His work also examines the intersections of technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, education and sustainable development.

His professional experience includes roles as an IT Manager, Security Consultant, Cybersecurity Program Chair and Strategic Business Consultant. This combination of academic and industry experience enables him to connect theoretical concepts with the practical challenges confronting contemporary organizations.

At Westcliff University, Dr. Aggarwal teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in management information systems, cybersecurity, cloud computing, information security and technology management. Since joining Westcliff in 2022, he has also contributed as a curriculum developer, Faculty Fellow, Faculty Senate Secretary and College Representative on the Faculty Affairs Committee.

He has designed and developed more than 12 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral courses in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, digital forensics and information technology. His curriculum-development work includes course blueprints, learning outcomes, instructional modules, assessments, rubrics, proctored examinations and applied virtual laboratories aligned with academic standards and emerging industry needs.

Dr. Aggarwal’s teaching philosophy emphasizes learning by doing. Through hands-on laboratories, simulations, case studies, collaborative projects and industry tools, he connects theoretical foundations with professional practice. He integrates artificial intelligence, extended reality and cybersecurity automation into learning environments to help students respond to evolving organizational challenges with technical competence, strategic judgment and ethical responsibility.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & RESEARCH

Dr. Aggarwal completed his PhD in Management at IAE Business School, Universidad Austral, in September 2026. His doctoral research examined entrepreneurial ecosystems, sustainable development and the role of business schools in advancing innovation and societal impact.

His broader research explores cybersecurity innovation, data privacy and compliance, AI-enhanced learning, management education, entrepreneurial ecosystems and sustainable development. His scholarly portfolio includes six works published in peer-reviewed journals, academic proceedings and edited volumes. His research has received more than 60 Google Scholar citations.

His most influential publication, “Do Entrepreneurial Ecosystems Foster Sustainable Development?”, was published in the International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal. His work has also appeared in Academy of Management Learning & Education and the Academy of Management Proceedings.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

  • Aggarwal, S. (2027). Agentic AI and the Transformation of Cybersecurity Education for Autonomous Cyber Warfare. In Agentic Intelligence and the Rise of Autonomous Cyber Warfare (pp. 383-414). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. Abstract
  • Audretsch, D. B., Rocha, H., Aggarwal, S., & Bramanti, A. (2024). Do entrepreneurial ecosystems foster sustainable development?. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 20(1), 1-37. Abstract
  • Aggarwal, S., & Henrique, J. S. (2026). Pedagogy of hope: Reliving Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Academy of Management Learning & Education. Abstract
  • Henrique, J. S., & Aggarwal, S. (2026). Building a Better Future Beyond Academia: Aligning Higher Education Institutions with SDGs. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2026, No. 1, p. 21469). Valhalla, NY 10595: Academy of Management. Abstract
  • Henrique, J. S., & Aggarwal, S. (2026). Context-Conditioned Sustainability Strategies in HEIs: Lessons from the Global North and South. In Academy of Management Proceedings (Vol. 2026, No. 1, p. 21415). Valhalla, NY 10595: Academy of Management. Abstract
  • Rocha, H. O., Bramanti, A., & Aggarwal, S. (2025). How do entrepreneurial ecosystems foster sustainable development? A system dynamics approach. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2025(1). Abstract

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Dr. Aggarwal has presented research on entrepreneurship, sustainability, management education, artificial intelligence, immersive learning and cybersecurity at international academic and professional conferences.

Academic and Applied-Research Conferences

  • Academy of Management Annual Meeting – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | July 31, 2026-August 4, 2026 – Building a Better Future Beyond Academia: Aligning Higher Education Institutions with the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Academy of Management Annual Meeting – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | July 31, 2026-August 4, 2026 – Context-Conditioned Sustainability Strategies in Higher Education Institutions: Lessons from the Global North and South.
  • 42nd EGOS Colloquium – University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy | July 9, 2026-July11, 2026 – The Role of Business Schools in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: Advancing the Third Mission for Sustainable Development.
  • 42nd EGOS Colloquium – University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy | July 9, 2026-July11, 2026 – How Business Schools Enact Responsible Management-as-Practice: Recoupling the Triple Mission Through Technical–Cultural–Political Fit in More-than-Human Assemblages.
  • 10th Annual International Symposium of Applied Research—SOAR 2026, Westcliff University | Online | October 15, 2026 – AI-Enhanced Global Cybersecurity Classroom: Connecting Westcliff’s California and Ontario Campuses Through Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
  • 9th Annual Symposium of Applied Research-SOAR 2025, Westcliff University | Online | October 9, 2025 – Cybersecurity Reimagined: AI-Powered Avatars in XR Worlds.

International Cybersecurity Conference Presentations

  • BSides Edmonton – Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | September 22, 2025 – From Shadows to Shields: Cyber Defenders and the Ethical Battlefront of AI-Driven Attacks.
  • BSides Vancouver – Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | May 26, 2025 – The Deception Engine: How Cybercriminals Use AI to Hack Your Perception.
  • BSides Seattle – Microsoft Campus, Redmond, Washington, USA | April 27, 2024 -Ethical Dilemmas at the Crossroads: AI’s Role in Social Engineering and Mobile Device Security.
  • BSides Vancouver – Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | May 27, 2024 – Ransom Meets Random: A Brief Analysis of Security and Privacy in Generative AI.
  • BSides Calgary – Bow Valley College, Calgary, Alberta, Canada | 2023 – Social Engineering in the Era of AI: Emerging Trends and Challenges.
  • BSides Edmonton – Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | 2023 – BYOD, CYOD, COPE, COBO, COSU: Ethical Challenges in Enterprise Device Management.

ADDITIONAL SCHOLAR-PRACTITIONER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Led the AI-Enhanced Global Cybersecurity Classroom connecting graduate students across California and Ontario through AI-supported feedback, international collaboration and experiential learning as a 2025–2026 Faculty Fellow in Westcliff University’s College of Technology and Engineering.
  • Participated in the São Paulo School of Advanced Science in Systems Change and Sustainability at Insper in December 2025, with financial support from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).

Dr. Aggarwal maintains an active professional network of more than 31,000 followers. His combination of technical expertise, management scholarship, curriculum development and entrepreneurial insight supports the preparation of students for leadership in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing digital environment.