About the ELI Creators
Dr. Mike Goldsby (mike@elprofile.com) is the Chief Entrepreneurship Officer,
Stoops Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship, Professor of
Management, and Director Emeritus of the Entrepreneurship Center and
Program at Ball State University. He teaches creativity, innovation, and design
in the University’s nationally ranked undergraduate and graduate programs in
entrepreneurship. Ball State University’s Entrepreneurship Program and
Center earned national rankings under his leadership, including: Top 20 in
Business Week, Success, and Entrepreneur magazines; and Top 10 in U.S.
News & World Report’s elite ranking. Goldsby has produced 35 refereed
journal articles. He is also the co-author of Innovation Acceleration (Prentice
Hall) and Design-Centered Entrepreneurship (Routledge). His research has
been reported in many international media outlets, such as ABC, NBC, CBS,
MSNBC, CNN, and the Associated Press. His study on entrepreneurship and
fitness was covered by Runner’s World, Prevention Magazine, Muscle and
Fitness, and Health Magazine, among others. His video series "The
Entrepreneur's Toolkit" was released by the Great Courses, and is available
on DVD, CD, and digital download. The Great Courses is a professionally
produced series of lectures featuring the top 1% of professors in the country in
their area of expertise.
Goldsby attained his undergraduate degree in business economics and public
policy from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, his master's
degree in economics from Indiana State University, and his doctorate in
strategic management and business ethics from the Pamplin College of
Business at Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech, he was awarded the Jack
Hoover Award for Teaching Excellence. He is a member of many
management professional organizations, and has served as vice president
and a member of the Board of Directors for the United States Association of
Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE), of which he has received a
distinguished service award. He also serves on the advisory boards of the
Indiana Small Business Development Center, the Innovation Connector, the
Ball State Entrepreneurship Center, the Ball State Industrial Design Initiative,
and the Ball State Innovation Corporation. He has been a co-principal
investigator of three major research grants: The Ball State/U.S. State
Department Entrepreneurship Project for Afghanistan, the U.S.
Navy/Department of Defense Military 2 Market Technology Transfer Program,
and the Launch Indiana Initiative with the Indiana Office of Small Business
and Entrepreneurship and Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
Goldsby’s current research interests focus on opportunity recognition and
development, design, innovation, and applied creativity. He specializes in
offering strategic guidance during times of creation, change, and growth. As
such, he is a frequent speaker to companies, communities, and universities,
and offers consulting and workshop services. In his spare time, Goldsby
enjoys athletic pursuits, such as running, triathlon, weightlifting, rock climbing,
golfing, hiking, skiing, swimming, and cycling. He has completed 25
marathons, including eight Boston Marathons, and enjoys training and
competing in Ironman triathlons. He also enjoys travel, drawing, writing, and
reading philosophy, American, world, and business history. With a wide range
of interests and activities, he draws inspiration from accomplished polymaths
such as Walt Disney, Thomas Jefferson, and Steve Jobs. His personal
mission is to inspire others to pursue their opportunities, to become more self-
sufficient in solving problems, and to increase personal productivity.
Dr. Rob Mathews (rob@elprofile.com) is the Director and Operations
Manager of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise at Ball
State University. He is also an Instructor of Management in the Department of
Management and Entrepreneurship Center in the Miller College of Business.
He currently teaches the introductory entrepreneurship course, “The
Entrepreneurial Experience”. Mathews has also led courses in market
research, the business plan, entrepreneurial design, entrepreneurial decision-
making, entrepreneurial consulting, management ethics, marketing for new
ventures, and entrepreneurial finance.
In his role in the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise, Mathews
maintains the Institute’s budget and leads faculty, staff, K-12, adult, and
community entrepreneurial leadership and problem solving training and
facilitation programs.
Mathews previously served as the Assistant Director of the Entrepreneurship
Center in the Miller College of Business. His primary role was to mentor
students on researching, compiling, writing, pitching, presenting, and
defending new venture business plans. He also led student teams in
entrepreneurial consulting projects. During his tenure in the Entrepreneurship
Center, he led student teams in the Military 2 Market initiative between the
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division and Department of Defense.
He has also aided the Entrepreneurship Center in various outside
partnerships. Mathews has also been involved in budget management,
curriculum development, business community and advisory board relations,
and led youth programs, Mini Society and EntrePrep. He served on the
selection committee for the Blue Chip Enterprise awards. Mathews won the
Entrepreneurial Support award in 2001 and 2006 for his contributions to the
Ball State University Entrepreneurship Program.
Mathews earned his undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship and MBA in
entrepreneurship and management of information systems from Ball State
University. While earning his undergraduate degree, he received the
Outstanding New Venture Plan Award. In addition, he holds a Doctorate in
Higher Education. His research focuses are on ideation, creativity,
entrepreneurial intentions, entrepreneurial talent, entrepreneurial leadership,
innovation, and entrepreneurial education.
Rob is the co-author of Entrepreneurship the Disney Way and the co-creator
of the Entrepreneurial Leadership Instrument. He is a certified trainer,
facilitator, and consultant in the Simplexity Complex Problem Solving and
Innovation Process. He is trained in Simplexity Applied Creativity levels I
(Personal Integration), II (Team Integration), III (Organizational Integration),
and IV (Train the Trainer), as well as having the designation of Professional
Innovation Advisor (PIA). He is also a certified Gallup StrengthsFinder and
Builder Profile-10 (BP-10; Formerly Entrepreneurial Profile-10), Myers-Briggs,
DiSC, and Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile coach and facilitator. Rob is also a
certified coach and trainer in the John Maxwell leadership system.
Mathews was part owner and Vice President of San Marco Realty, Inc. San
Marco Realty, Inc., a retail home improvement business as well as a real
estate company located in Marco Island, Florida. During his tenure in the
business, he led a complete remodel that resulted in more than a 200%
increase in revenues. Mathews was also owner and Managing Member of 67
Realty, LLC in Pendleton, IN, a retail home center and property management
company, where he managed all strategic activities of the business, including
marketing, finance, and seasonal procurement. Mathews was a finalist for the
Hardware Retailing magazine's Young Retailer of the Year Award in 1999 and
2000, and his business was a finalist for True Value Company's Best
Hardware Store in Town Award in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Mathews enjoys his
family, golf, softball, attending sporting events, and church activities. He and
his wife, Julie, have been married 22 years, and have two children, Nate (12)
and Lindsey (9).
