About the Author

Dr. Todd A. Finkle is a pioneer and innovator in the field of entrepreneurship education. He is currently the Pigott Professor of Entrepreneurship at Gonzaga University where he is an entrepreneur, author, consultant, and speaker. Todd is also the founder and CEO of The Startup Professor, a consulting firm that works with a wide variety of entities including: countries and universities from all over the world, Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, startups, franchises, family businesses, and non-profits. Todd has been an entrepreneur of five companies (Investment, entertainment, consulting, technology, and publishing). He has taught for 28 years at 4 different universities where he has published and/or presented 240 books, articles, presentations, and grants on a wide variety of topics on entrepreneurship. His research has focused on entrepreneurship, technology entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurial finance (valuation, financing startups, structuring deals), entrepreneurship education, corporate entrepreneurship, international entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship centers, family business, franchising, and MOOCs. Dr. Finkle has published a book entitled, "Lessons Learned from Leading Entrepreneurs: Case Studies in Business and Entrepreneurship" that contains in-depth case studies on several famous entrepreneurs including Steve Jobs (Apple), Sergey Brin and Larry Page (Google), Warren E. Buffett (Berkshire Hathaway), Wayne Huizenga (Waste Management, Inc., Blockbuster Entertainment, and Republic Industries). The book also has actual business world cases on a variety of topics including: buying a franchise and small business chain, expanding a small business internationally, succession in a family business, and issues when expanding international. He has also written case studies on Richard Branson (Virgin), Larry Ellison (Oracle), and Andrew Mason (Groupon). Dr. Finkle created of a relationship with Warren E. Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. Buffett read Dr. Finkle's case study on Warren E. Buffett and personally invited Dr. Finkle three times to visit him for a day in Omaha. Finkle has also brought six different groups of students to visit and learn valuable lesson on business, life, and happiness from Warren E. Buffett.