Ted Ladd
Ted Ladd is a full Professor of Entrepreneurship, former founding Global Dean of Research, former Dean of the San Francisco Campus, and former founding Academic Director of the Doctorate of Business Administration at the Hult International Business School. He is also an Instructor of Platform Entrepreneurship at Harvard University. Previously, he taught at Stanford University, the Copenhagen Business School and the Presidio Graduate School.
His research, detailed at ORCID, Google Scholar, and his Forbes column, focuses on innovation in general and multi-sided platforms and artificial intelligence in specific, published in a range of academic and practitioner-focused channels. His most recent book Innovating With Impact is published by the Economist.
He was a member of seven different startups in Silicon Valley. A few succeeded; a few tanked. Palm, the maker of the Palm Pilot, enjoyed an IPO. An energy software company was acquired by Underwriters Laboratory (UL). The most recent was acquired by Google to become WearOS.
He holds a PhD in Management from Case Western, an MBA from Wharton, an MA in Economics with distinction from Johns Hopkins, a BA cum laude as a triple major in Biology, Government, and Sociology from Cornell, and a farrier's certificate from the Oklahoma School of Horseshoeing.
He is a frequent speaker at academic and industry-focused conferences, discussing trends at the intersection of technology and business.
Ted's social media streams:
Ted's Avatars in Web3
Ted's Teaching Impact
The chart below illustrates my evaluations, as reported from anonymous official surveys by the host institution from students collected at the end of each course. I've also included the regression line to show the trend in these evaluations. (Note that this line is illogical because it doesn't recognize the asymptotic ceiling of 5.0)
Ted's Biography
Short version:
Ted Ladd is a Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at Hult and an Instructor of Platform Entrepreneurship at Harvard University.His research focuses on innovation in general, and multi-sided platforms in specific, published in a range of academic and practitioner-focused channels. His most recent book, Innovating With Impact, was published by the Economist. He was a member of seven different software startups in Silicon Valley. The most recent was acquired by Google. He holds a PhD from Case, MBA from Wharton, MA from Johns Hopkins, and a BA from Cornell.
Longer version:
Ted Ladd is a Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Hult International Business School based on its campus in San Francisco, as well as an Instructor of Platform Entrepreneurship at Harvard University in Cambridge. He was formerly the Dean of the San Francisco campus, the Dean of Research, and the founding Academic Director for the Doctorate of Business Administration, all at Hult. He has also taught at Stanford University, the Copenhagen Business School, the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, and the Presidio Graduate School.
Ted was the director of ecosystems at a startup backed by Foxconn to pioneer the wearable internet of things (a “smartwatch”) until it was acquired by Google as the basis for Android Wear. He founded Equilibrium Power, which was acquired by HOMER Energy, which was in turn acquired by Underwriters Laboratory (UL). He has founded, led, or participated in five other mobile-tech and clean-tech startups, with a variety of outcomes (some good, some not).
Ted’s research focuses on methods to design business models for early stage high-tech startups, and has appeared in several academic and practitioner-oriented publications and conferences, including the Harvard Business Review and TED. His research won three grants from the National Science Foundation, the “best paper” in social entrepreneurship from the Academy of Management, and the paper “most relevant to practicing entrepreneurs” from USASBE. Ted received a Fulbright Distinguished Chair Scholarship as a SyCip Fellow to teach entrepreneurship in the Philippines. He has also won 15+ teaching awards.
He holds a PhD in the Management of Sustainable Business Systems from the Weatherhead School of Business at Case Western Reserve University, an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an MA in International Economics with honors from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, a BA in government, biology, and sociology cum laude from the College of Arts & Sciences at Cornell University, and a farrier's certificate from the Oklahoma School of Horseshoeing.
Ted and his wife live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he is on the board of several private, public, and non-profits emphasizing economic development. In his youth, he herded grizzly bears, cattle, horses, and tourists as a ranch hand, wrangler, ranger, and biologist.
Ted's Biography from ChatGPT
Ted Ladd is recognized for his contributions in the fields of business education and sustainable entrepreneurship. He is particularly known for his work on platform ecosystems, a concept in business that refers to the development and interaction of complex networks of producers and consumers, often facilitated by a central platform or company. Ladd's expertise in this area has made him a respected figure in academic and business circles.
As an educator, Ted Ladd has held positions at various institutions where he has focused on teaching and developing courses related to entrepreneurship and business strategy. His work often intersects with topics like sustainability, technology, and innovation, reflecting a keen interest in how businesses can thrive in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Additionally, Ladd is noted for his insights and thought leadership in sustainable entrepreneurship. This involves guiding and inspiring entrepreneurs to build businesses that not only succeed financially but also contribute positively to environmental and social goals. His approach often emphasizes the importance of creating value in ways that are sustainable and responsible, resonating with contemporary concerns about business ethics and sustainability.
Overall, Ted Ladd's professional journey intertwines education, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, making him a notable figure for those interested in these interconnected domains.