#howard tullman

[kevinnance]

The art collector © 2019 by Kevin Nance

(Howard Tullman)

[rickberry]

We’re pleased to announce that “The New Nude”, a deluxe publication by PoetsArtists features 4 Rick Berry paintings. Curator Walt Morton introduces this collection of exceptional contemporary nudes with his insightful essay about the artist as auteur. Another special treat included in the book is a photo-filled interview with Chicago collector Howard Tullman. Shown here is “Chiropractic” oil on board, 48x24″

[kevinnance]

Howard Tullman © 2017 by Kevin Nance

(For Chicago Gallery News)

[creativemorningschicago]

#CMCommitment with Howard Tullman

“Being committed means that you have to live, demonstrate and prove that commitment everyday. When you do that, everyone else will sign on to your dream.“

Thank you to all who joined us and sponsored us for a fantastic event with former 1871 CEO, Howard Tullman! Howard explored May’s theme of COMMITMENT, sharing thoughts and stories around the role commitment plays in motivating ourselves, inspiring people around us, creating a hardworking and ethical workplace culture and more. Couldn’t join us at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts? Check out the livestream video on our Facebook page, or hold tight-- we’ll have formal video of Howard’s presentation up soon!

Went to my first #creativemorning #cmcommitment @chicago_cm watching the insanely inspirational @howardtullman talk about having a clear vision & values to help build something great. Never waver from what you believe when building something as it's a slippery slope into bad quality. The auditorium at @loganucenter was beautiful. #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #buildsomething #inspiration #motivation #dostuff

A post shared by bulbbraincreative (@bulbbraincreative) on May 18, 2018 at 4:51pm PDT

Had a great time @chicago_cm today listening to @howardtullman talk #commitment

A post shared by Green Sheep Water (@greensheepwater) on May 18, 2018 at 8:55am PDT

Practical and impactful wisdom, as always, from @howardtullman @chicago_cm @creativemorning #creativemornings #creativity

A post shared by Rana (@ranak256) on May 18, 2018 at 7:50am PDT

Innovation wake up call this morning by @tullman. Grandiose foreshadowing (and hospitality) courtesy @Chicago_CM pic.twitter.com/wkiQdI766A

— Melody Roberts (@twelody) May 18, 2018

[smitashahchicago]

[rickdesai]

Business School Click Bait.

The meaningless debate of whether MBAs can be entrepreneurs.

The MBA bashing by the startup community has been in effect for years. The most recent post I read was Howard Tullman’s A/B Testing Is So Yesterday—and So Is Your MBA. And like the others, it reads like click bait.

Why? Because it is a manufactured issue. Master of Business Administration programs are not meant to create entrepreneurs. The majority of MBA students do not enroll to found a company. They want to join investment banks, private equity firms, consultancies, and/or consumer product brands. In fact, over 89% of students at UPenn’s Wharton, Stanford GSB, and Indiana’s Kelley find placement in corporate America. Hence, the curriculum is designed to create super analysts and managers. And against that objective, the curriculum is effective.

Entrepreneurship is blind to a person’s degree. Founders come from all educational backgrounds, professional domains, and geographies. It is not a career you apply for; it is a career that seizes you through the pursuit of problem solving. And as long as business schools exist, entrepreneurs will come from MBA programs as well. It may be a former consultant MBA looking to make a better pair of pants or an International Studies MBA major looking to improve the way payments are made online.

The real debate is if MBA programs can strengthen entrepreneurs.

Tullman says probably not. He believes business school programs will evolve in a reactive manner. He adds that business schools will play catch up through:

“…frantic, and utterly expected and lemming-like responses by adopting the best practices from the outside world and adding courses in stats, data science, and A/B testing.”

My co-founder at Dashfire, Nick, received an MBA from Indiana’s Kelley School of Business. He concentrated in Decision Sciences and focused on simulation, split testing (the 1990s version of A/B testing), neural networks, data mining, real options, and optimization.

Nick graduated in 2002.

These disciplines are offered to prepare students to make risk reducing decisions at their future employers. That’s why Google has an “MBA preferred” for its highest paying non-engineering positions.

Though assumed to chasing huge risks to start world-changing companies, the best entrepreneurs don’t seek risk. They diligently seek to mitigate it. Hence, the risk framework taught in business schools strengthens entrepreneurs.

Further, since 2003, 12 of 39 or roughly 31% of all unicorns (startups with a valuation >$1BN) have an MBA founder. In 2014, 36 of the Fortune 100 CEOs had MBAs. The curriculum seems to be working in and out of the board room.

Meanwhile, MBAs are adding to the framework. The professor roster is regularly supported by entrepreneurs serving as adjuncts. Founder and VCs alums participate in classes, office hours, and pitch competitions. Endeavors like iLab at Harvard Business School or Chicago Booth’s New Venture Challenge offer funding through venture challenges, provide co-working space, and access to startup workshops. In Chicago, Northwestern’s Kellogg and Chicago Booth’s logos shine brightly as inaugural tenants of 1871, the city’s premier startup co-working space.

What it takes to be a successful entrepreneur is not prescriptive. The path taken — whether through a snowy night in Paris or through Stanford — is meant to be directional. In the end, there is not one perfect path. Rather, a number of directions, most of which become celebrated in hindsight. All MBAs don’t make great entrepreneurs. Just as all doctors don’t discover new vaccines. But every year, business school proves to be the right path for a group of entrepreneurs. Just look at Chicago’s Braintree (founded by a Chicago Booth Alum), Grubhub (co-founded by a Chicago Booth Alum), and Trunk Club (founded by a Stanford GSB Alum).

[turningdreams2reality]

“Every business starts with a dream. But if the dream is about making money, you’re not going anywhere. But if it’s about making a difference, then the sky’s the limit.”

- Howard Tullman

[startupinstitute-blog]

Founder Syndrome: Working in Startups Doesn’t Always Mean Starting a Company

Aspiring founders and entrepreneurs gathered at 1871 on March 31st to hear from a panel of experienced starters including: Howard Tullman, CEO of 1871 & Managing Partner at G2T3V,  Eric Olsen, Early Stage VC at Origin Ventures, Shreena Amin, COO at PrettyQuick, with Jason Henrichs, Managing Director at Startup Institute moderating the discussion.

When asked, is there a difference between a founder and an entrepreneur? Steve Jobs was referred to as a founder who had vision and entrepreneurship spirit. If you have the spirit, but lack the vision, you’re probably best suited as a startup employee. This reminded me of a video of Steve Jobs leading NEXT and talking about “Vision [7:15]” and the “Work it takes to start a company [13:00].”

So, how do you know when you’re ready to be a founder or an entrepreneur? It became clear that the panel was asking the audience, “Are you ready to do the work put in the time to become a founder?” A question that shone through when Howard Tullman asked “How are you going to get in and lead the parade instead of just joining?”

Are you ready to take the leap as a founder? Do you have valuable startup skills that will make you an asset to someone who has the vision, but needs help executing? It takes a lot more than one or two people to start a company.

For more on the topic, check out these interviews with Chicago startup founders and employees:

Erik Severinghaus: There's Never a 'Right Time' to be a Founder Howard Tullman: You're Not Ready to be a Founder Henry Vasquez: 5 Points of Focus Before Founding a Company Mike McGee: Pros and Cons of Starting a Company

Regardless of the title, the path to startup life awaits.

Ready to be an employee at an early stage company? Visit Startup Institute to learn more about our summer session.