Thunderbird School of Global Management is excited to grow its Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship. The Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship will continue Thunderbird’s long tradition of a unique approach to business — truly global. Seven key people are charged with leading this program into the future: Dr. Robert Hisrich, Professor Ernesto Poza, Dr. Steven Stralser, Dr. Gary Gibbons, Dr. Mandi Bullough, Professor Samuelson and Ms. Katherine Hutton.

Who We Are

Dr. Hisrich

Dr. Hisrich is the Garvin Professor of Global Entrepreneurship and Director of the Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship at Thunderbird. Prior to joining Thunderbird, Dr. Hisrich held the A. Malachi Mixon, III Chaired Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Hisrich has obtained the honor of a Fulbright Professor two times as well as being internationally known for his work in the area of Entrepreneurship.

Professor Poza

Professor Poza is Professor of Global Family Enterprise in the Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship. He received his BS from Yale University and an MBA/MS from Sloan School of Management, MIT. Professor Poza is an internationally recognized, top-rated speaker and consultant to family-owned businesses, and author of Family Business 2e, 2007. In recognition of his contribution to the field of family business, the Family Firm Institute awarded him the coveted Richard Beckhard Practice Award in 1996. He is a founding member and Fellow of the Family Firm Institute. 

Dr. Stralser

Dr. Stralser is a Clinical Professor in the Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship. Dr. Stralser received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan where he taught marketing and marketing strategy. He holds a BS in marketing from The University of Arizona and an MBA from Arizona State University. In 1998, he was named "Faculty of the Year" for teaching excellence in the U of A's nationally-ranked Berger Entrepreneurship Program. Dr. Stralser achieved a Fulbright Senior Scholar honor, teaching marketing management in the MBA program at The Budapest University of Economic Sciences and Entrepreneurship at The University of Miskolc. Dr. Stralser is well known in the area of marketing and strategy and has had several books published including MBA in a DAY: What you would learn at top-tier business schools-if only you had the time.

Dr. Gibbons

Dr. Gibbons is an Adjunct Professor in the Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship. He received his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Claremont Graduate School - The Peter F. Drucker Graduate School of Management. Dr. Gibbons holds an MS from California State University and a BS from the University of Arizona. He is a Principal, Senior Analyst and Portfolio Manager with the Coleridge Group , a registered investment advisory firm in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Bullough

Dr. Bullough is the Academic Director for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women's Program and an Assistant Professor at the Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship at Thunderbird School for Global Management in Glendale, Arizona.

Ms. Hutton

Ms. Hutton is the Managing Director of the Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship. She is responsible for managing the Center, its programs and activities.

Professor Beran Samuelson

Professor Beran Samuelson is the Program Manager for Women Entrepreneurship and a Clinical Instructor at the Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship. She is finishing PhD in Political Science at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Ms. Beran Samuelson is primarily responsible for Thunderbird’s women entrepreneurship activities in Jordan including Maharat, Executive Training, and Project Artemis Jordan. She is also involved in Goldman Sach’s 10,000 Women Program in Afghanistan and Project Artemis Afghanistan.