BOB OLSON

STEUBENVILLE — Bob Olson, a leading tech entrepreneur and business thought leader, has accepted the position of executive director of entrepreneurship and growth at Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Olson will work closely with the Leadership Institute at Franciscan University to launch the new entrepreneurship program for students. He will partner with the university’s leadership team to promote a growth and entrepreneurship mindset as the university addresses the changing needs and demographics of higher education.

“Bob’s faith and enthusiasm are contagious, and we are excited to have him join us,” said the Rev. Dave Pivonka, TOR, president of the university. “He has deep experience and a history of innovative thinking in pricing, marketing, leadership, organizational design and business culture that will help us execute our strategic plan to grow Franciscan University and fulfill its mission to educate, evangelize and send forth joyful disciples of Jesus Christ.”

The founder of Reality Distortion Ventures, Olson is a serial entrepreneur and executive coach who has helped launch numerous startups.

Olson has served in executive and leadership positions for LendingHome (the fastest mortgage marketplace to reach $1 billion, raised $165 million, and recognized as Forbes top 50 fintech companies), IO (whose U.S. operations were acquired by Iron Mountain for $1.4 billion), two stints at GoDaddy.com, HomeRun.com (acquired by Rearden Commerce), Mobile Mini Inc., Intuit, Homestead Technologies (acquired by Intuit), Neoplanet (acquired by Compaq Computer Corp.) and ING Group.

One of Olson’s primary responsibilities will be to launch the entrepreneurship program under the university’s leadership institute.

“We intend to build the entrepreneurship program from the ground up, with input from leading entrepreneurs and business leaders to equip Franciscan students with the tools to succeed in today’s global marketplace,” said Doug Perry, executive director of the leadership institute. “Bob Olson is a high-energy, enthusiastic business thought leader who will help us build a distinctive program that inspires our students to launch their own ventures while remaining true to their faith. The university and our students are blessed to have someone with Bob’s unique background to lead us in the launch of our program.”

“I am humbled and honored to serve the students and the Franciscan University of Steubenville community,” said Olson. “To be invited to build an entrepreneurship program and bring a growth mindset for an institution that already has world-class faculty and leadership in numerous fields including the schools of theology and philosophy and natural and applied Sciences is truly special. Recognizing that Franciscan University of Steubenville has been considered by many to be the service academy to the Catholic church has provided many learnings and analogies we can apply in developing our next generation of business leaders. I am excited for us to build a program that is measured by outcomes that will make a difference in the lives of many.”

For information about the university’s leadership institute, visit franciscan.edu/leadership-institute, or e-mail leadershipinstitute@franciscan.edu.