Episode 128: Business Software and Inovators

Episode 128 originally broadcast on November 17, 2007

The School of Business for November 17, 2007

Russ and John present serious, supplemental information not included in any college curriculum. Includes: BusinessMakers Quote of the Week - wisdom from the Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus; This Week in Business History presents government stuff; Navigating Business Jargon - buzzwords and technospeak that people tend to screw up; and Dumbest Moments in Business History - Porter County, Indiana repeatedly screws up a citizen's tax bill.

Jeffrey O. Henley of Oracle Corp.

The chairman of software giant Oracle Corp., Jeffrey Henley, discusses life with Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, innovation, dilution and growing by acquisition. Henley offers valuable advice for small successful companies seeking to be acquired.

Brad Burke of Rice University

As managing director of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, Burke always provides insightful good news about innovators who are Making It Happen. The Alliance was recently recognized as the leading university entrepreneurship center in the United States for the creation of successful new enterprises by the National Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers in Syracuse, N.Y. Since its inception in 1999, the Alliance has been responsible for the launch of more than 200 companies that, collectively, have raised more than $300 million in early stage funding.

Flashback - Inspiration to Start a Company

Successful entrepreneurs tell of the events that pushed them over the edge and gave them the inspiration to start their companies. Flashback to December 2006 as Robert Conrad, founder of Zeno, tells of repeated theft from his garage that prompted him to partner with a friend to launch his invention. Flashback to November 2006 and an interview with Chris Devonshire-Ellis, founder and senior partner of Dezan Shira & Associates, one of the leading advisory and tax accounting firms in China, as he talks about diving into an unknown market. Finally, in this segment from May 2007, Garrett Boone, co-founder of The Container Store, talks about the early ideas that morphed into his 40-store retail operation.

PKF Texas: The Entrepreneur’s Playbook® - Innovation Leads to Success

Greg Price believes that, for well-run companies, effective innovations are not purchased from experts outside, but take place from precisely targeted efforts occurring within the company.