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 He might live in Israel, but Erik Steiner's business students at AIU Online would never know it. He's available to them just as if he was sitting next door. For a traditional brick-and-mortar school, a professor's residence thousands of miles and a major ocean away would be an insurmountable obstacle to his sharing his unique knowledge and expertise with its students. Online schools, however, are free to seek out the best instructors available, regardless of where they are in the world. And AIU Online tracked down Professor Steiner.
"Business today is global in nature. My international perspective helps me structure my classes in a way that helps students prepare for their future careers in a realistic manner while taking into account not only local but also global ramifications of strategic and tactical decisions."
But Professor Steiner's qualifications aren't limited to his global outlook. Steiner hasn't even hit mid-career yet and already he has founded, co-founded or helped with the creation of over a dozen companies. "Some consider me to be somewhat of an expert on startups and technology marketing... Sometimes I almost believe them." Currently Professor Steiner is advising startups in the medical-device and software markets, and he is constantly on the look-out for new entrepreneurial opportunities.
Being so heavily involved with the often-risky world of startups has its downfalls though. In spring 1999, Steiner co-founded Veranto, a developer and marketer of enterprise-level software, with partner Zack Rinat. Less than two years later, the two had to close it. "Closing the company down, communicating with customers and especially sending everyone home was a challenge. It took me a couple of years to recuperate from the experience."
Before heading off into the world of startups, Professor Steiner put time in at traditional companies of all sizes—Fortune 100s, Fortune 500s, Global 2000s and "some pitifully miniscule companies"—in a wide range of industries: retail, energy, manufacturing, healthcare and technology. He has filled roles across the entire spectrum of marketing positions, from product manager to director and vice president of marketing. Steiner even served a 10-month stint as an interim CEO. Today, he heads up marketing and operations for Steiner Hearing Instruments, Inc., the leading player in the hearing and audiology market in Israel.
And Professor Steiner's real-world experience comes on top of graduate business degrees from Stanford University (Business Research) and Washington University in Saint Louis (MBA).
Like many of his students, Professor Steiner entered into business as a second career. As an undergrad, he studied engineering at the Technion in Israel. "The engineering career path was disappointing, though, and I was always very business-prone, so I made the switch and haven't regretted it since."
"Business is probably the most dynamic of all professions. No two days are ever the same and each and every day is chock full of interesting and unforeseen challenges. Personally, business appeals to me because it allows me to bridge my creative and analytic talents."
Even so, Professor Steiner's most interesting job to date has nothing to do with business. "Being a parent is the best job I've ever had." Steiner and his wife, Eti, have three kids: two boys and a girl. "They teach me something new every day."
His hobbies are very un-business as well. Steiner recently finished setting up a painting studio and rarely goes anywhere without a camera. He paints mainly with oils and describes his style as "O'Keefish renditions of flowers."
"My varied experiences—in business and life—bring a practical perspective to my students' studies. I think this is especially critical for adult learners. It also makes class more engaging and allows me to connect with students on a different level." Also helping Steiner connect with students is his current status as a student as well (although he's on a short leave of absence). He is pursuing his Ph.D. in business through an online program.
"Going to school online is far more challenging than in a traditional environment, especially for adults who are working, typically full time, and often also have families. I think that educationally online can be a far superior experience to traditional schools. My current situation gives me a whole new appreciation for and insight into how much AIU Online students are putting into my classes."
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Business is probably the most dynamic of all professions. No two days are ever the same and each and every day is chock full of interesting and unforeseen challenges. Personally, business appeals to me because it allows me to bridge my creative and analytic talents.
—Professor Erik Steiner |
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