dr. brad zehner
senior advisor and lecturer
Expertise: Entrepreneurship, Technology Management and Commercialization, & Leadership Education
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William Bradley “Brad” Zehner II recently “retired” from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas as associate professor of international business and global entrepreneurship (11 years). Currently, he is active as a senior advisor to Cylentium, a cybersecurity startup, and is on both the Library and Economic Development Boards of Burnet, Texas.
Dr. Zehner was formerly Associate Director of the IC2 Institute (a “think and do tank” focused on wealth creation) as well as Executive Director of the MS in Technology Commercialization (MSTC) program at University of Texas at Austin (6 years). Dr. Zehner, with the help of highly dedicated faculty and staff, restored both academic and fiscal integrity to the failing MSTC program in one year. Later, the MSTC program was replicated at the University of Lodz in Poland. Dr. Zehner was an IC2 Institute Fellow (13 years).
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Dr. Zehner was associate professor of Leadership Studies in the world’s first executive PhD program in Leadership at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas (1 year).
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Dr. Zehner began his academic career at Pepperdine University’s Graduate School of Business as associate professor of Marketing, Strategy, and Technology Management (12 years). At Pepperdine University, Dr. Zehner was Strategy Co-chair and Simulation Chair; was twice elected to the Faculty Council; and was one of two professors on Pepperdine University’s Strategic Planning and Budgeting Committee.
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Recently, Dr. Zehner co-authored, with Dr. Dariusz Trzmielak at the University of Lodz, a book on technology commercialization and technology transfer as well as several book chapters /articles on technology commercialization processes and programs. Dr. Zehner’s current research focuses on technology commercialization processes and related technology commercialization educational programs, and leadership.
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Prior to joining the Academy, Dr. Zehner enjoyed a 30-year professional career with Rockwell International, Leesona Corporation (NYSE), and John Brown Plc-London holding a number of positions in finance, marketing, sales, product management, new product development, business development, and strategy. He has managed companies on every continent except Antarctica and served on the boards of companies in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
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Brad Zehner was the first President of Worldwide Marketing and Sales (~1800 employees) for 12 technology companies located in 6 countries as well as simultaneously Managing Chairman for four small engineering companies (~320 employees) located in the United States, England, France, and Hong Kong. He integrated 12 separate marketing and sales organizations into a single global organization. Based in London, Brad. Zehner was Vice President for Strategic Planning and Business Development for 26 industrial companies for John Brown-Plc. In 1982, Dr. Zehner opened offices in Beijing, China and Moscow, Russia for John Brown Plc.
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As a young M.B.A. posted to Hong Kong by Leesona, Brad Zehner turned around the failing Far East operations in eight months. Later, he was Vice President of Asia-Pacific and Latin America as well as Director of Operations for the 14 Western States.
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As a financial analyst at Rockwell International Corporate Headquarters, Brad Zehner analyzed the Financial Plan for the US Space Shuttle which Rockwell International then bid and built. Additionally, for two years, Brad Zehner was responsible for the for the financial presentations of the monthly meetings of Rockwell International’s 30-35 Divisional Presidents, the quarterly Board of Directors meeting, and the Annual Stockholders meeting.
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Dr. Zehner earned a Ph.D. (Leadership and Executive Management) from the Peter F. Drucker School - Claremont Graduate University, a M.A..(psychology) from Pepperdine University, M.B.A. (finance) and M.S. (marketing) from the Marshall School- University of Southern California, and a B.A. (political science) from the University of California, Riverside. He earned a certificate in Advanced Strategic Leadership from Oxford University-UK.
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Dr. Zehner has lived throughout the USA and in Hong Kong, England, and France.