Home: Dublin, OH for most of my life, but I consider Brooklyn, NY as my hometown in the U.S. Age: Depends on the perspective (physical, emotional, spiritual). Profession: Business, organizational & educational psychology, engineering, people systems. Higher education, entrepreneurship. Organization: Transcontinental University. Title: President and Chief Innovations Officer. Alma mater: The Ohio State University; University of Phoenix; Capella University.
Current project: Helping organizational leaders with a more systemic approach to executive development. Teaching leaders how to inspire their people so they can retain and attract talent. Recent recognition: Featured in Forbes and in University World News; appeared on the Fix. Hobbies: Tennis, ballroom dance, volleyball, skiing, platform tennis.
Personality profile: Curious, passionate, high integrity. Moral compass: Balancing multiple perspectives from my own values and gut to the needs and desires of others. How do you define a perfect friendship? One that enables me to feel supported, loved, and that constantly challenges me to be better. How do you define an ideal business relationship? One built on trust, respect and a desire to grow together towards a larger goal beyond business. What is your greatest joy? Seeing others thrive in their field and achieve their dreams.
What is your go-to source of news and information? My team brings me the relevant news and information since I choose not to consume any news in the media, due to the lack of balance and negative focus. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Early morning is my greatest creative inspiration, letting my unconscious do the creative work on something I am passionate about.
What is your big idea? Revolutionizing business higher education around the world. Imagine many business leaders who can think systemically and have the knowledge and skills to make profound positive impacts. What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? More leaders who can think systemically and not be too busy reacting to what's in front of them. What change would you like to see in the world? Educational institutions from universities to corporate training organizations to master and apply educational psychology and systems thinking. What message do you want to send out into the world? Anyone can master their ability to learn and exceed their potential as they know it. What widely held belief do you reject? Working hard gets you ahead. The golden rule of respect. Think outside the box. Open door policy.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? The Immigrant who Revolutionized Adult Education. What object would you first save from your burning home? My laptop. It has everything in it from my memories to my innovations. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my wife and daughters. Helping my daughters learn something new about life. What advice would you give your younger self? Nothing. The toughest lessons are the greatest lessons to becoming the person I am today.
And just a bit deeper:
Why did you build your own global university? I saw countless business graduates not remember much of what they supposedly had learned, and knew there’s a better way to develop the human mind. The only way to truly develop sustained knowledge and skills was to reinvent the systems in higher education and adult learning. What drives your passion for education? A great love to seeing people be successful and finding that their potential is far greater than it seems. How did you arrive at being such a systems thinker? I’ve had numerous influences to arriving at this mindset. Being originally trained as an engineer, then learning about business and psychology gave me a unique perspective as I experienced higher education globally.
Personal mission: To be a transformative change leader enabling systemic shifts in thought around the world and leading humanity toward evolution from within. Personal motto: Live life with the greatest passion and constantly learn. Desired epitaph: World Transformer.
