BSc and MSc, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineer, entrepreneur, innovation expert. Former Vice-Provost for Innovation, University of Southern California (USC). Co-Founder, computer telephony pioneer Stylus Innovation. Founding Executive Director, MIT Deshpande Center and USC Stevens Center, spinning off 39 start-ups during tenure. Inaugural Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Los Angeles Mayor's office, focusing at the intersection of entrepreneurship and manufacturing. Creator of first TEDx event, spawning 6,500 events worldwide so far. Contributor to Forbes. Named Champion of Free Enterprise (2010). Interests: creating new organizations and scalable models that turn ideas into maximum impact; backcountry skiing, adventure travel, skydiving, mountain biking, shark diving and authentic food.