After more than 20 years working in the corporate world, Michael joined the faculty of the Northwestern University McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation-CEI. CEI is dedicated to evolving engineering beyond the application of the sciences to the creation of businesses that capitalize on innovations. Michael has been teaching entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship for the past 14 years. For the past ten years, he had been an adjunct professor in the McCormick Master of Engineering Management program teaching Technical Entrepreneurship.

Michael continues to be a zero and early stage investor through his venture capital company, Solesde. He currently sits on the boards of Sportiqe, Zone Medical, and Context Media. Previously, Michael was the acting chief marketing officer and vice president or CRM at Bally Total Fitness where he led their transition into a multi-channel integrated marketing organization. He was also the founder and general manager of the Chicago office of Digitas where he guided the office from startup to a staff of 80 providing interactive and relationship marketing services to companies like Allstate, Best Buy, Brunswick, and others. His background includes key roles at Organic, Inc. and Solucient, Inc.

Michael researches how established businesses can successfully foster new businesses through corporate venturing. He also focuses on the concept of “bootstrapping” – how to grow a company with little or no capital. Michael received his BS in Accountancy with high honors from DePaul University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.