We have all heard this idiom in one context or another.  In spite of the talent of George Bernard Shaw, on this point, we completely disagree.

I teach marketing, entrepreneurship, business strategy, and now finance. I’ve also had the opportunity to earn two associate degrees, one bachelor’s degree, an MBA, and I’ve completed the coursework in three different Ph.D. programs.  I’ve also taught at the university level (undergraduate & graduate) at seven universities on two continents.  I have a lot of experience with education.

That experience has taught me that doing, and teaching, can (and should) go hand in hand.  These skills are not mutually exclusive, they are symbiotic, and they re-enforce each other.  Teachers should be able to present the best cutting edge research that academia has to offer; and combine it with best practices which are proven to work; along with lessons learned from their own hands-on experience.

On the professional side, I have over 25 years of marketing, leadership, and entrepreneurial experience in technology and telecom. I started my career as a Software Engineer, then expanded into full life-cycle product marketing, program management, strategic alliances, business development, and executive leadership. I’ve started or participated in eight large-scale technology startups and provided consulting services for dozens of successful early stage companies – several that are now very well known.  Based on the innovative ideas that we generated, I’ve had the opportunity to develop and submit four U.S. patent applications, hold six U.S. trademarks, and own more than 60 top-level domains.

I’ve had the good fortune to raise more than $60 million in venture capital and return much more to investors.  I’ve pitched opportunities in Silicon Valley (Sand Hill Road), Wall Street, and corporate boardrooms in many parts of the world.  Of course, not every venture has been successful, but I’ve enjoyed some exciting rides and learned lots of important lessons along the way.

I still own three companies (Zairmail, Cendix, & Yana Surf), and a 501(c)(3) non-profit, Eastern Oregon Ventures.  I’m no longer actively involved in the day-to-day operations, this is handled by business partners and contractors; however, I am responsible for approving product direction, establishing business strategies, and serving as an advisor (business & technical).

I do my best to stay current, so that when I’m teaching a rapidly evolving topic like online marketing, or search engine optimization, I’m teaching both the underlying theoretical foundation and what is working for the pro’s right now. When I’m teaching PESTEL analysis, we talk about important events that are critical to students and business executives today. The marriage of academic training and professional experience has the ability to assure relevance.