about
I have had one of those eclectic careers during which I have been able to move from idea to idea, somehow without (necessarily) falling flat on my face each time. My experience spans financial markets, media, software, and education.
I recently joined the faculty of Washington & Lee University (aka, W&L) as an Assistant Professor of Business within the Williams School of Commerce, Economics & Politics. W&L is one of those cool, liberal arts universities distinguished not only by its USNews rankings (12), but also by its possession of schools/programs of/in Commerce, Law, and Journalism (which most top Liberal Arts colleges do not possess).
In the years prior to an academic posting I founded or held management roles in a series of startup ventures (Vega, Noisebox [acquired by Sonique], Sonique [acquired by Lycos], MyFilms, Kick [acquired by Sony], Engadget [acquired by AOL]), leading to experience across the life cycle of organizations—from startup to acquisition and even failure. This experience prior to my PhD informs the research questions I pursue and the methods I employ in the classroom.
My research has implications for theory, policy, and practice. I have not only published in academic venues, but also written for and spoken in policy and practice venues. I have been fortunate to have been interviewed and/or cited by media outlets such as: the Financial Times, National Public Radio, WIRED, Billboard, and the Guardian.
In the classroom, I actively mix theory with practice through interactive presentations, case discussions, and simulations. I presently teach three courses: i.Startup, described as “Intro to entrepreneurship meets the Amazing Race;” Wicked Problems, an entrepreneurship course targeting social issues such as poverty, health care, and education; and Strategic Management, a capstone strategy course.
I hold a PhD in Management from Vanderbilt University, a joint-degree MBA from AGSM (University of Sydney/University of New South Wales), and a BA in Economics from Northwestern University.
Here is a link to my online CV.