Dr. Leonard Jackson, a Clinical Professor at GSU, is an award-winning professor who specializes in business development and venture financial management. He earned a Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University; Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (M.S.E.), University of Florida; Master of Science in Management Information Engagement, Innovation, and Impact through Entrepreneurship (M.S.E.), University of Florida; Master of Science in Management Information Systems (MS), Oklahoma State University; Master of Business Administration (MBA}, University of Guelph, Canada; Master of Accounting (MAcc.), Florida Atlantic University; and Bachelor of Commerce (BComm), Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada. He also pursued post-doctoral studies in entrepreneurship and accounting at the University of Florida. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Jackson held senior managerial positions and acquired extensive international corporate experience in the areas of financial management and control; accounting; auditing; feasibility analysis; asset management and; operations management. He also co-founded and managed his own venture.
Dr. Jackson is the recipient of numerous excellence in teaching awards at the university, college and departmental levels. He has also been awarded for his research and is currently conducting research in the areas of entrepreneurial ecosystems and venture financing. He has published over 50 intellectual contributions and has presented his work at academic and industry conferences. He currently serves on the editorial boards of several academic journals and his works have been cited in both industry and leading academic publications. In addition to his academic endeavors,
Dr.Jackson has been involved in executive development programs in Latin America and the Caribbean region. He has also consulted with and executed executive and professional development workshops for national and global organizations including Intercontinental Hotel Group. He also serves as a visiting professor at ESSEC Business School, Paris, France.
Benie Amani is a business student at Georgia State University’s Robinson College of business. She is pursuing a degree in managerial sciences with a minor in entrepreneurship. She was chosen for the entrepreneurship and innovation institute’s special internship course and is currently working with a small business called TQ Intelligence as part of it.
She is a senior planning to graduate in May and is also a part of the Robinson College of business Honors Program, and the Georgia State University Honors College.
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James Chidi Okolo is founder and CEO of nSpire, LLC and is currently a sophomore studying for his undergraduate degree in Business Economics and Entrepreneurship. He has taken advantage of many of the opportunities provided by Georgia State University, but more specifically LaunchGSU- Georgia State’s on-campus student Incubator.
He is an ambassador for the LaunchGSU program and collaborated with the incubator on an incentive program for LaunchGSU members.
During his first 2 years at Georgia State University, Chidi maintained a GPA of 3.7 while also making headway in his entrepreneurial ventures.
As CEO of nSpire LLC, Chidi is in charge of overseeing all company operations as well as making day to day business decisions.
An analytical thinker and a dreamer, Chidi Okolo is a young entrepreneur who has high standards and expectations for himself and his team. He continues to expose himself to different perspectives in order to make effective business decisions.
Tim Sok is a Sophomore at Georgia State University, he will be attending the J. Mack Robinson College of Business in pursuit of an undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship. During his first two years at Georgia State University, Tim has been inducted as a brother of Pi Delta Psi Fraternity Incorporated; He has also had the opportunity to join the executive board of Beard Gang Student Alliance as marketing director and spearheaded a program with LaunchGSU, Georgia State’s on-campus student incubator.
In addition, Tim has had work experience since the age of 15; he is currently working part-time as a server at Sushi NAMI and started working there as a Freshman. Lastly, Tim Sok is a founder and current president of nSpire, LLC. As president, he focuses on brand development and marketing, while overseeing day to day operations.
Tim is both a dreamer and a do-er. He believes in big dreams and hard work, as a first-generation American he aims to set a powerful foundation for the future.
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