Michael Wall
Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School
“Michael may be the perfect teacher. He is loved by students, winning teaching awards from almost all of our programs – undergraduate, MBA, part-time MBA, and specialized masters of business analytics – all within one year! He has won our internal teaching awards 11 times across 8 years as well as our city’s prestigious Emerson teaching award. Students love Prof. Wall.
“His background makes him invaluable to the school. He has a strong background in industry, and brings that knowledge to the school and the classroom. He continues to invest in business interests by being an important partner for our Center for Analytics and Business Insights (CABI). There, he helps maintain Olin Business School’s relationships with top businesses who are interested in utilizing the newest and best methodologies in artificial intelligence.” – WashU Olin
Michael Wall, 45, is Professor of Practice in Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Washington University in St. Louis, Olin Business School.He is also Academic Director of Experiential Learning and Co-Director of the Center for Analytics & Business Insights.
Before joining WashU, he was the Vice President of Digital Strategy and Solutions Architecture at Rise Interactive, a leading digital marketing firm in Chicago, and helped to start two businesses, including PointDrive, which was acquired by LinkedIn.
Wall’s academic career is distinguished by numerous accolades, including eleven Reid Teaching Awards, which are voted on by students and honor professors whose enthusiasm and exceptional teaching have a transformative impact on their educational experience. Additionally, Wall received the Olin Award in 2023, which recognizes research by Olin faculty that makes a significant impact on business results, as judged by a panel of business executives and educators. Beyond WashU, he has also been recognized by Poets & Quants as one of their “Favorite Professors” for three consecutive years (2021-2023), and the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award in 2022.
His expertise spans corporate innovation, new product development, entrepreneurial marketing, and data-driven decision-making, all of which form the foundation of the courses he teaches. Wall’s work at Olin extends beyond the classroom, empowering students to tackle real-world business challenges through industry partnerships and experiential learning opportunities.
BACKGROUND
At current institution since what year? 2017
Education: BA 2001, Indiana University
List of Undergraduate courses you teach:
- Digital Marketing & Customer Analytics
- Business & Marketing Innovation
- Marketing Metrics
- Practicum
TELL US ABOUT LIFE AS A BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR
I knew I wanted to be a business school professor when …
I reached a point in my career where I was coaching and teaching others. I’ve never been one to get excited about individual accomplishments—team achievements were always more fulfilling. But nothing compared to the experience of helping others realize their potential and achieve their goals. It was a deliberate choice to move from the industry to academia so that I could focus on helping tomorrow’s leaders and it was the best decision I will ever make in my career.
What are you currently researching and what is the most significant discovery you’ve made from it?
I’m most passionate about finding new and innovative ways to better understand what matters most to people and how that drives their perceptions and behaviors. For example, recent research that got to the heart of why students choose one job offer over another after graduation. Another initiative currently underway is discovering how to use data science to best understand what resonates most with consumers emotionally and why.
If I weren’t a business school professor, I’d be …
most likely embarking in some entrepreneurial initiative. I’ve always been a curious person, one that enjoys solving complex problems and building solutions. Being a business school professor still enables me to do this while also positively impacting students.
What do you think makes you stand out as a professor?
I think it’s because I always make it about them. I’m just a conduit between where my students are today and where they want to be and could be tomorrow. Every student interaction I have is guided by my vision and mission for teaching. That vision, my reason for teaching, is to help each student realize their potential and achieve their goals. The mission, how I work to turn that vision into reality, is striving to deliver remarkable learning experiences that deliver exceptional results.
One word that describes my first time teaching: Surreal
Professor I most admire and why: Professor Glenn MacDonald, John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics and Strategy here at WashU Olin. Setting aside the fact that Glenn is brilliant, what I truly admire is his uncanny ability to connect with his students and the unique and innovative learning experiences he provides our students. I wish I could be a student in his classes.
TEACHING BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS
What do you enjoy most about teaching business students?
I could probably write a book answering this question. In terms of teaching specifically, their intellect, inquisitiveness, creativity, and desire to work collaboratively with their peers. Beyond teaching, they are nothing short of inspiring. They really are incredible. As a father of a 6 and 4-year-old, they leave me feeling very optimistic about our future.
What is most challenging?
Making sure that I, and the courses I teach, are approachable and relatable. For example, I work to avoid popular culture references that relate to me or use-case examples that I understand and instead focus on what’s relevant, interesting, and engaging to them.
In one word, describe your favorite type of student: Humble
In one word, describe your least favorite type of student: Arrogant
When it comes to grading, I think students would describe me as … Outcome-Driven. I don’t teach exam-based courses; instead, all my courses are highly pragmatic, mirroring real-world scenarios. Some are experiential, with students working directly with real clients. They learn to answer critical questions, make important decisions, take action, and measure results. In this context, grading isn’t about getting an answer right or wrong—it’s about meeting the expectations that have been set just as they will have to do in their career.
LIFE OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
What are your hobbies?
I really enjoy pretty much everything and anything outdoors. From jogging to playing golf, to cutting the grass, to having a picnic with the family, if the activity is outdoors, I’m in!
How will you spend your summer?
In addition to continuing to serve in my non-teaching roles at Olin, my summers are spent preparing for the next school year. It’s important for me to stay at the cutting-edge so that I can provide my students with the most relevant and impactful experiences possible. That and spending time at the pool and doing other activities with my family.
Favorite place(s) to vacation: Cape Cod and Michigan.
Favorite book(s): Where Good Ideas Come From by Steve Johnson.
What is your favorite type of music or artist(s) and why?
My music range if vast from country to grunge to the oldies and everything in between. But my favorite genre is classic rock. In fact, I teach my students about the origin of rock and roll and how it actually started with the Delta Blues in the South, making its way to Chicago via Muddy Waters. For example, did you know the Rolling Stones named their band after the Muddy Waters song, Rollin’ Stone?
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
If I had my way, the business school of the future would have much more of this …
what we are doing now at WashU Olin. Under our new Dean, Mike Mazzeo, we have doubled down on experiential and individualized learning, transforming student experiences and outcomes while empowering them to drive business success and create meaningful impact in communities during their time here.
In my opinion, companies and organizations today need to do a better job at …
Better understanding what matters most to emerging young talent and improving the processes in place to identify and hire this talent. There are few things more difficult in business than attracting and retaining great talent.
I’m grateful for …
The opportunity I was given at WashU and for the faculty who have helped me succeed since making the transition to academia. We have a fantastic culture and I will be forever grateful for those who gave me a chance and then enabled and empowered me to succeed.
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