David Bradford is bringing his extensive entrepreneurial experience to the undergraduates at the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business.
Bradford, who is currently the executive chairman of HireVue — the leading provider of on-demand digital interviewing — will use his 30 years of experience in the computer industry to help students from freshmen to seniors better understand how to be a successful business leader in his course “Entrepreneurship and Society.”
“I love building something new and being involved from the ground up. It’s my entrepreneur roots,” Bradford said. “I look at these students, and I see myself 45 years ago, and ask: ‘What did I need to know then that I wasn’t taught?’ Then I teach them about the real world of business. I’ve never been a university professor. I’m really looking forward to sharing my experiences with the Eccles School students.”
Bradford is a welcome addition to the teaching faculty at the David Eccles School of Business.
“David is a coup for our undergraduate students, who will be able to learn directly from one of the best business minds Utah has to offer,” said Dean Taylor Randall.
His upbeat personality and stories of inspiration already have students excited to learn from him this semester.
“The experience he has from his professional career has really allowed him to show us students what it’s like to be an entrepreneur,” said freshman Matt Healey, who is considering becoming a business major. “He has good, positive energy, and he’s an engaging teacher.”
About David Bradford
Prior to becoming executive chairman at HireVue, Bradford served as its chief executive officer, directing company sales to over a 200 percent increase and raising more than $47 million in capital.
From 2009 to 2010, Bradford was the chief executive officer of Fusion-io, which creates data storage memory platforms. He guided the company as it went public in June 2011. He was able to raise more than $100 million in growth equity and to recruit Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Inc., as the company’s chief scientist. (Bradford’s laptop is a MacBook signed by Wozniak.)
A large part of Bradford’s career was spent as senior vice president and general counsel of Novell, Inc. from 1985 to 2000. He has served on several boards and worked in several law firms throughout his career, and he was general counsel to governor-elect Jon Huntsman, Jr.
He has received many awards and accolades, including being inducted into the Utah Technology Council Hall of Fame in 2013.
Bradford graduated in the 70s from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s in political science followed three years later by his Juris Doctor. He received his masters of business administration from Pepperdine University in the early 80s. For the past 40 years, he has been married to Dr. Linda Bradford. They are the parents to four children and have 16 grandchildren.
About the David Eccles School of Business
Founded in 1917 in Salt Lake City, the David Eccles School of Business has programs in entrepreneurship, technology innovation and venture capital management. It launched the country’s largest student-run venture capital fund with $18.3 million and is home to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute and the Sorenson Center for Discovery and Innovation. Approximately 4,500 students are enrolled in its undergraduate, graduate and executive degree programs. For more information, visit business.utah.edu or call 801-581-7676.
