Ask the Experts What happens when the founding CEO of Compaq and the heads of Rice Alliance and Greater Houston Partnership get together at BioScience Research Collaborative at the corner of Main and University? A high-voltage conversation about entrepreneurship and Houston.
2. What traits help make an entrepreneur successful? BB: Passion, perseverance, flexibility to be able to modify your plans when something’s not working. The new word in our lingo is pivot. Entrepreneurs need to be persistent and flexible, and they have to be willing to pivot. RC: It takes drive, desire and a certain amount of vision. I never viewed myself as an entrepreneur. I went to work for Texas Instruments right out of graduate school. A big part of my training at TI was learning the many aspects of the business. I encourage students to work for a big company that does it right, that has a culture and a reporting structure. Then when you reach a certain point in your maturity and under the right circumstances, you may want to do your own thing.
Brad Burke, Managing Director, Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship Bob Harvey, President and CEO, Greater Houston Partnership Rod Canion, Co-founding and first CEO, Compaq; Author, Open: How Compaq Ended IBM’s PC Domination and Helped Invent Modern Computing. For the full interview, visit business.rice.edu/experts.
1. Why is Houston a great place to start a business? BB: Houston was founded on a culture of collaboration that continues today. There is a lot of support through the entrepreneurial eco-system. The saying, “A rising tide lifts all boats” is true here. It’s also true that many successful entrepreneurs want to give back and get great personal reward by helping the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs. BH: Houston is a great place to do business. A robust economy and financing infrastructure, diverse talent pool, and low cost of living provide a favorable climate for budding entrepreneurs. Houston has become a magnet for attracting top talent. Left to Right: Brad Burke, Bob Harvey, and Rod Canion 16 // JONES JOURNAL FALL 2013