He is a Fellow of the British Academy, a Fellow of the Advanced Institute of Management Research (UK), and a Fellow of the Academy of International Business. Professor Birkinshaw's main area of expertise is in the strategy and organisation of large multinational corporations, and on such specific issues as strategic agility, digital transformation, corporate entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Julian is a recognised expert on innovation, entrepreneurship and renewal in large corporations. He has PhD and MBA degrees in Business from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, and a BSc (Hons) from the University of Durham. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the Stockholm School of Economics, 2009.