Having worked in a number of industries, roles and countries, I’ve come to realize I’m an advocate for the change power of people, big ideas, data, analytics and algorithms. I believe in disruptive innovation – I’ve been part of it several times in my career – and in the creative energy of capable teams. Together great people can invent a solution to any problem, but an innovative solution in the hands of mediocrity will never realize its full potential.

I’ve created companies, led in times of growth and contraction, raised venture capital, invented and above all built teams that solved complex and often ugly problems. Increasingly, the transformative forces of social media, analytics, algorithms, automation and mobile / cloud computing have empowered entrepreneurs and innovators like never before; yet at the end of the day it still comes down to building teams, implementing scalable operating practice and innovating faster than competitors.

I began my career in industrial and process control, and 30 years later what we practiced then is now referred to as the “Internet of Everything”. The networking of all connected devices, increasingly all people (we have a way to go with that) and the digitization of most all processes will be the defining force and greatest challenge for leadership and management through the remainder of this decade.

My passion for lifelong learning brought me to higher education, first as a student, then as faculty and now in academic leadership. Continuous, experiential, applied and increasingly digital education, coupled with research and innovation, remain the most potent tool for economic growth, professional success and competitive advantage.

It is currently my pleasure to lead one of Canada’s largest Business Schools as we transform how present and future leaders, entrepreneurs and employees learn about, think about and grow globally aware, profitable, innovative and socially responsible businesses.