Entrepreneur. Ethics. Leadership. Alumni @University of Hawaii, @EastWestCenter, @GVSU.
I am an educator, entrepreneur, and business consultant. I am also an area expert on China having formally been trained in Chinese culture and language. I have recently been involved in researching, lecturing, and consulting on the intersection of ethics, business, and technology.
I have taught and worked in unique and stimulating environments, including a university in Shanghai, China, the East-West Center’s Asia Pacific Leadership Program in Honolulu, Hawaii, and as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Grand Valley State University.
I have served on non-profit boards in Honolulu, HI and San Francisco, CA and ethics committees in Michigan and California.
I am an entrepreneur that has developed business plans, facilitated the raising of capital for new ventures, and handled day-to-day management of small organizations. Most recently, I have helped to launch MotleyGreen, a social media and gamification platform focused on sustainability.
I speak Mandarin Chinese and have lived and worked extensively in China.
I have consulted with large and small business organizations in South Africa, China, and the United States on the future of business, the role of China's economic and social development, generational theory, leadership and ethics, and social media technology.
After working in the Asia Pacific Leadership Program for one year as a Leadership Seminar Assistant, I decided to return to school and spend time studying once again with Dr. Roger T. Ames. My goal was to become a better writer and develop advanced critical thinking skills that would prepare me for further academic work and consulting. Study throughout the duration of this degree included in-depth analysis of Chinese philosophy and strategic culture, the impact of industrial and organic food delivery systems on the natural environment, global environmental issues, Islamic culture and history, and advanced symbolic logic.
At GVSU I started in the Finance program and found the curriculum to be a bit less rigorous than I anticipated. After taking Ethics and the Philosophy of Religion, I was inspired to take a more comprehensive approach to my education and develop critical thinking skills through a philosophy degree, while at the same time completing a minor in Finance. Study throughout the duration of this degree included general undergraduate curriculum in comparative philosophy, social and political philosophy, East Asian religions, and business with a particular focus on finance. Extensive field study took place through the Community Working Classics Program in the underprivileged and economically challenged communities of Western Michigan with a particular focus on the Heartside community of Grand Rapids, Michigan and the Muskegon Correctional Facility in Muskegon, Michigan.
After spending a year in China following my undergraduate study at GVSU, I was enamored with the possibilities that China promised (both intellectually and in business). In addition, my comparative studies as an undergraduate helped me to see the value in studying culture broadly. To exhibit my commitment to China, and to open career possibilities in the Asia Pacific region, I chose to head to the University of Hawaii to study with China scholar Dr. Roger T. Ames. Study throughout the duration of this degree included in-depth analysis of Chinese popular culture, China and its modern economy, Chinese strategic culture, Chinese philosophy and religion, East Asian politics, the Asian built environment, and advanced Mandarin training. Extensive field study took place in China, particularly Beijing and the Eastern provinces of the P.R.C.
Eric is a highly compelling and effective educator, speaker, and consultant. His management skills, which are many, include development of competent leaders and navigating generational conflicts.
Overview of employing social media in the context of generational diversity.