Philosophy
Excellent teachers are engaged in continuous learning and research. They are at the forefront of understanding new trends in their field and pushing themselves and their students to be innovative thinkers. Teaching is a valuable asset to researchers, as a classroom is an excellent forum in which to generate new ideas and to gauge the value of existing theories and new discoveries.
As I see it, my role as a teacher is threefold. First, I am responsible to teach the content of the course effectively, especially by organizing the material in such a way that it is engaging, clear, and accessible to students. However, content appropriate for business students is not merely information that I pass along; it is embedded in a collaborative classroom experience through which student decision making is improved. This said, I often utilize the Socratic Method to lead students towards more disciplined ways of thinking.
The second aspect of excellent teaching entails ensuring that the students have ample opportunity and practice in applying the information they have learned effectively. One of the ways that I have done this is by working with each student to design customized projects that are meaningful to them and reflective of the challenges they have faced in business settings. These projects draw upon the topics covered throughout the course but allow the student to develop them beyond the parameters of my classroom. Students are more engaged when it is clear to them how the course content will benefit them beyond the course.
Third and perhaps most important, I emphasize teaching students to think critically. The world is constantly changing, and, given that their chosen fields will likely evolve dramatically in just the next decade, students need the skills to remain innovative and cutting-edge thinkers. I promote critical thinking in two ways: through case studies (questioning decisions, thinking through a variety of possible outcomes, and debating the ultimate success of the central decision); and by assigning readings about well-known innovators, entrepreneurs, and highly successful businesses. Presently, I utilize Shoe Dog by Phil Knight, Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard, and Delivering Happiness by Tony Hsieh as these are companies and products students are well familiar with. Using these long form texts allows for deeper immersion into the context of the decision, but they also demonstrate the concepts being discussed in class. I am constantly reading current popular press biographies of leaders and companies so that I can keep this content fresh and relevant.
It is my desire to assist learners of all backgrounds towards realizing their full potential in business. Many individuals want to contribute to existing companies, some to society through nonprofits, and others seek to author a part of the socio-economic landscape through entrepreneurship. It is my aim to guide them towards their goals by connecting the practical, context-specific decisions they are facing to the rich foundation of management theory.
Teaching Experience
University of Utah
Entrepreneurship
ENT 5770 - Origins of Value Creation 2018
ENT 5770 - Business Discovery and Creation 2020
Corporate Strategy
STR 5700 - Strategic Management 2017
STR 5700 - Strategic Management 2020
Innovation
Executive Education Seminar 2017
Ratings/Reviews
Instructor rating 5.85/ 6.00
Departmental Teaching Award 2017
Diversity Statement
I am committed to providing my students with the best support I can regardless of their race, gender, preference, orientation, age or other distinguishing features. Diversity provides great value and allows for an enriched educational experience. I take great pride in being able to instruct and guide students of all backgrounds.
I constantly seek to understand the unique challenges facing my students. I work to provide mentors that have faced these challenges such that students can get coaching from someone who has struggled with the same set of challenges. Furthermore, these mentors help me to see the world differently.
Managing and leading organizations is a hard role, and it is much harder when social institutions are opposing you. It is my desire to dismantle this barriers and to help my students to dismantle them. Oftentimes it is the removal of these barriers that tremendous economic opportunity exists. We must effect change in the patterns of disadvantage and discrimination that are still so evident in society.
It is my responsibility as a teacher to always create an environment that is safe for my students. I continually work to increase the broad spectrum of perspectives available in my classes, which are critical to the mission of teaching, research and service. We are all on a journey and it is truly remarkable to learn from different experiences and perspectives.