Lynn Metcalf

Dr. Lynn Metcalf is Professor of Entrepreneurship in the Orfalea College of Business at California Polytechnic State University and Co-Academic Director of the Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. She has professional and academic experience in mixed-methods research and in advising early stage companies on discovery, experimentation, and validation methods. Over the past 20 years, she has worked with early-stage startups and students on product development and launch projects for numerous client companies. While on professional leave from Cal Poly, Dr. Metcalf supported strategy development and articulation at Philips, as well as new product development. She incubated and nurtured relationships with research faculty and their graduate students at major research universities in the U.S.

Dr. Metcalf’s research interests are broad and include business decision-making, innovation and entrepreneurship, qualitative research methods, package design for marketability, and international business negotiation. Her research appears in California Management Review, European Journal of Marketing, Journal of World Business, International Journal of Cross-Cultural Management, Journal of Marketing Education, and others.

Education

• Ph.D. University of South Carolina: Marketing and International Business
• Master in International Management, Thunderbird School of Global Management
• B.A. University of Oregon: International Business
• Stanford Graduate School of Business: Executive Course Negotiation and Influence Strategies
• Institute for Intercultural Communication: Cross-Cultural Training in International Corporations

Experience

• Visiting Professor:
  • Monterey Institute of International Studies
  • Helsinki School of Economics and Business Administration – Mikkeli Institut de Gestion Sociale. – Paris American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird)
• Director, University Alliance Office – Philips Electronics, Palo Alto
• Consultant:
  • Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Cal Poly Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship