The University of Tulsa is pleased to welcome Michael G. Goldsby as the new David and Leslie Lawson Endowed Chair in Entrepreneurship within the Collins College of Business and Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Goldsby received his bachelor’s degree in business economics and public policy from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, his master’s degree in economics from Indiana State University, and his doctorate in strategic management and business ethics from the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech, he was awarded the Jack Hoover Award for Teaching Excellence.
Goldsby’s current research focuses on the recognition and development of opportunities, design, innovation, and applied creativity. In 2024, he published his research in an article titled “Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Supply Chain Managers: Exposing a Powerful Potential” for the Journal of Business Logistics.
He is a member of multiple professional management organizations and offers consulting and workshop services to companies, communities, and universities. In addition to numerous refereed journal articles, Goldsby coauthored “Corporate Innovation (2nd Edition)” and “Entrepreneurship the Disney Way.” His research has been reported by major international media outlets, including CBS, MSNBC, CNN, and The Associated Press.
His study on entrepreneurship and fitness has been covered by Runner’s World, Prevention magazine, Muscle & Fitness and Health magazine.
Recently, Goldbsy took some time to conduct a Q&A to help the campus community get to know him better.
You have degrees in economics and strategic management. What drew you to academia?
The Gallup StrengthsFinder says my No. 1 strength is Learner. I agree with that. As a professor, I am always learning and sharing that knowledge with my research and teaching. I enjoy interesting conversations about the big ideas of the world.
What do you enjoy about teaching? What does teaching mean to you separate from your research?
Teaching is a chance to share what I find useful and interesting to others. I hope my enthusiasm for my subjects come through when I teach and inspires others to attain their goals.
You have produced almost 50 journal articles and co-authored 10 books. In your research, what topics are you drawn to and what are your current areas of research? Are there any current trends in the field?
I’m drawn to how much impact one person or a small team of people can have when they take an idea and change the world around them. I often think how the world we live in is changed by a particular person with a commitment to their vision and the leadership and salesmanship to get others on board. I like to study the mechanisms and processes that make that possible.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurial studies students within the Collins College of Business as they consider life post-graduation?
Think about what you want to happen in your life, prepare for it, take some steps forward in pursuing it, and then adapt and be open to the opportunities you didn’t expect. Sometimes the unexpected opportunities are better than the ones you imagined.
Your video series “The Entrepreneur’s Toolkit” was released by the Great Courses and appeared on Netflix. In your opinion and experience, what does it take to be an entrepreneur?
It’s having an idea you feel strongly about doing and the willingness to make changes as the world tells you what’s good and bad about it. It’s also being smart about what ideas are the best ones to risk your limited resources on and how much of that to risk.
What do you enjoy doing besides research and teaching? Do you have any hobbies or activities you like to do? Foods or restaurants you love? Favorite films or books?
I enjoy fitness activities, especially cycling and golf. I play guitar. I’m really into 1970s and 1980s Brian Eno-produced bands. You can learn about innovation knowing how those albums were produced. My favorite restaurant is the California Grill on top of the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World. My favorite film is “Alien.” It’s Ridley Scott at his world-creating best. But the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” movies had a big impact on me as a kid. My favorite book is “Walt Disney: An American Original” by Bob Thomas. It was the book that started me on my journey of learning about Disney. “Cosmos” by Carl Sagan also had a big impact on me as a child.
What are you most excited about at The University of Tulsa?
I am most excited about the opportunity to do my best research as the David and Leslie Lawson Chair of Entrepreneurial Studies. I have held many roles in my past positions, but I now can devote more time to the deep thinking and writing required to do good scholarship. I’m appreciative of the opportunity and support to make that possible.