Question: What teacher influenced your career most and why?
Dr. Barry Horowitz at University of Louisville
"Dr. Horowitz was one of my electrical engineering teachers at the University of Louisville when I was an undergrad. I attempted to skate through one of the projects that he assigned, and I failed miserably. He urged me to find something in life that I was passionate about. I took his words to heart and became an entrepreneur. I thank him to this day."
@lawrencewatkins
Rob Gilbert at Florida International University
"Rob Gilbert at Florida International University taught me the value of working on a team and how to lead and sell the vision to others. I still work with him today because he developed a tool called Work Preference Indicator that lets me know if the person I am interviewing is going to fit our team culture and business. "
@derekcapo
Thom Williams at Marple Newtown Senior High School
"Thomas Williams passed away too early, but his impact on me was tremendous. He was passionate about disrupting students' interests with interests they would never consider. He had football players playing chess. He had science geeks writing poetry. He had cheerleaders jamming out on the guitar. Exploration of uncomfortable things is what makes an entrepreneur successful. I miss him."
@SusanLaMotte
Rhonda DuBord at the University of Miami
"Rhonda was responsible (and still is) for the club sports program at the University of Miami. She helped me and countless others start clubs, guiding us along the processes of registering, funding, marketing, logistics and customer service. It was my first introduction to entrepreneurship and gave me the confidence to start my first commercial venture after graduation."
@benleis
Alicia Jimenez at Aurora, Ohio City School
"Ms. Jimenez was tasked with challenging Aurora's gifted students during their primary education. We would be pulled from our normal classes twice a week to be presented with a wide range of material. Logic, creativity and critical thinking were high on the list. It was then that I learned giving up is a prerequisite for failure. It's good to relish a challenge and excel."
@MintonLawGroup
Chris Olsen at Meridan Elementary School
"I was struggling to fit in, getting straight F's, and it seemed like I had no hope in the future. Chris worked with me to help me channel my ADHD energy in the right way, and I found a new passion for life. Things really turned around for me that year, and the next year I got a 4.0 GPA. I have gone on to do amazing things. Thank you, Chris. "
@andykaruza
Dave Charron at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business
"Dave was my professor in a few different classes. Every day I would leave with a nugget of insight, many of which have directly led to our success at Modify. The most influential lesson is to just do it. I was hesitant to try a few ideas, and Dave wouldn't let me be scared. There's nothing more empowering than someone who pushes an entrepreneur over the cliff of hesitancy!"
@MosesOfWatches
Steve Blank at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business
"Many people have read Steve Blank's books. He's somewhat of a deity in the startup world. I was lucky enough to see him teach. His passion for creative entrepreneurship is contagious. His "Lean Startup" model completely changed how we run Go Overseas. I use his way of thinking and testing concepts in almost everything we do. His philosophy has impacted my professional life in a profound way."
@mitchgordongo
