Can you tell us about your professional background prior to starting the EDBA program?
I spent 23 years as an entrepreneurial CEO building and leading a global oilfield services company. My career began in mergers and acquisitions in 1995, following my MBA from the University of Miami. In 2000, I launched my own boutique investment banking firm, and shortly thereafter, I invested in one of my early clients. When the CEO unexpectedly passed in 2002, I stepped into the role, an inflection point that defined the next two decades of my career.

From there, we scaled the business globally and ultimately completed multiple strategic transactions. In 2014, I led a management buyout alongside a private equity partner, expanded operations across 12 international locations, and built a footprint in nearly every major oil and gas-producing region worldwide. In February 2024, we successfully exited the business through a sale to Weatherford International. Throughout that journey, I remained a student of leadership, learning, adapting, and evolving every single day.

What motivated you to pursue a Doctor of Business Administration at this stage in your career?
After exiting the business, I was intentional about my next chapter. I wanted to give back, both through teaching and through advisory work on a global stage, particularly in the Middle East, where advanced academic credentials carry significant weight.

More importantly, I saw the EDBA as an opportunity to deepen my intellectual toolkit. After decades in the field, I wanted to complement practical experience with rigorous academic insight, to elevate the value I can bring to students, clients, and organizations navigating increasingly complex environments.

What factors led you to choose Miami Herbert Business School over other programs you may have considered?
Quite simply, there was no comparison for me. The University of Miami has been foundational to my journey, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. I’ve watched Miami Herbert evolve into a forward-thinking, globally relevant institution, and I have immense respect for Dean Pavlou’s leadership and vision.

This decision wasn’t about evaluating options; it was about aligning with a community and a trajectory I already believed in and wanted to help advance.

How would you describe your experience in the program so far (academically, professionally, and personally)?
This has been one of the most energizing and rewarding experiences of my career. Academically, it has reignited a level of intellectual curiosity that I didn’t fully appreciate I was missing. The depth and caliber of the faculty are exceptional, frankly, eye-opening, and engaging, with nearly 60 professors, which has been both humbling and inspiring.

Professionally, it has sharpened my ability to integrate academic rigor with real-world application. Personally, the cohort experience has been transformative. The relationships, the shared energy, and the collective ambition have created a culture that is both challenging and invigorating.

If there’s one reflection I carry, it’s that I wish I had done this sooner.

In what ways has the program influenced your thinking and leadership approach?
After more than two decades as a CEO, my leadership philosophy was already well-developed. The program hasn’t fundamentally changed that, but it has reinforced and refined it.

The impact has been profound in my thinking. Prior to the program, there’s a natural tendency toward pattern recognition and operational efficiency, which I would describe as a form of productive tunnel vision. This experience has expanded my perspective significantly. It has challenged me to re-examine assumptions, explore alternative frameworks, and think more broadly and strategically.

Equally important, the cohort itself has become a powerful source of insight, bringing diverse perspectives that continuously push my thinking in new directions.

What have been the most valuable aspects of the experience so far (e.g., faculty, cohort, curriculum, networking)?
The cohort stands out immediately. The collective experience, intellectual horsepower, and willingness to engage at a high level create an environment that is both rare and incredibly valuable. These are not just classmates, they are peers, advisors, and long-term collaborators.

The faculty is equally exceptional. Their commitment to teaching, mentoring, and learning from the cohort creates a dynamic that elevates everyone involved.

The curriculum has also been a meaningful challenge; transitioning from practitioner to scholar is not trivial, but that stretch is exactly what makes the experience so rewarding. And from a networking perspective, the connections being built are already translating into real-world collaboration and impact.

What advice would you give to someone considering this program?
If you’re considering it, lean in. Don’t wait for the “perfect” time. I likely delayed this decision by a decade, and in hindsight, integrating this experience earlier would have created tremendous value.

That said, it’s important to come in with the right mindset. Be open. Be willing to challenge yourself with your own thinking, applied in new ways. And be prepared to engage fully, because if you do, the return on that investment is extraordinary.

Would you recommend the Miami Herbert EDBA program to others? If so, why?
Absolutely, without hesitation.

First, the faculty are world-class. Their expertise, accessibility, and genuine commitment to student development are exceptional.

Second, the program delivers a rare integration of scholarly depth and practical application. That intersection, where academic rigor meets real-world execution, is where true value is created.

And third, Miami Herbert is redefining what a business school should be. It’s not anchored in legacy thinking; it’s actively shaping the future, embracing technology, AI, and new models of education. That forward-looking mindset is what makes this program not just relevant, but essential.