Tell us about your background.
Well, I have been at Duke a long time. About 15 years. But before arriving at Duke, I was a Program Director in Executive Education at The Kenan Flagler Business School at UNC and before that I taught business courses at the University of Georgia. And before that I held various management positions at American Express in both England and the United States.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to cycle, swim and generally I try to keep in shape. I also like reading fiction as a break from my typical academic reading. I also like to cook Indian food.
What is your favorite part of working at Duke?
There are so many interesting opportunities at Duke for both faculty and students. On any given day I can listen to world class scholars, public policy makers, artists, and entrepreneurs. I can attend a musical performance or dance concert. This is an opportunity you just can’t find in other environments. I hope everyone takes advantage of the range of people and views that are expressed in this environment. That is definitely what I find most interesting. I am constantly learning from others.
What do you hope that Markets and Management Studies students get out of the MMS program?
When you join an organization, business or otherwise, the organization is likely to train you or instruct you in the way they do things. This is particularly true of consulting and banking. Because of this we want to provide students an opportunity to build skills that any employer would want that are not necessarily industry or company specific. These include the ability to think analytically and to use data, the ability to judge the merits of different ideas, communication skills (both written and oral), and the ability to work in team situations. These skills never go out of fashion.
What would I like to tell students?
This one is especially for senior who don’t have careers or jobs nailed down. Don’t worry so much. Everything will work out.
Markets Management Studies