Boler Dean Advocates for More International, Tech and Innovation Experiences

We Are Meant for Community

Elad Granot, Ph.D., the new Dean of the Boler College of Business, brings a uniquely qualified perspective on the importance and value of providing international immersion experiences in business higher education. 

Having served as an executive in large multinational organizations around the world, Dr. Granot has extensive knowledge of the global marketplace and has been at the forefront of establishing and implementing marketing strategies to benefit business, government, higher education and underserved populations.

Granot was raised in New York City, the son of Israeli parents, and he returned to Israel as a teenager to serve as an officer in the Israeli Defense Forces.  In 2002, he immigrated to the USA with his wife and children and, since that time, he has not only established himself as a leader and innovator in business and higher education in the United States, but also as an entrepreneur and venture capital investor in emerging technologies such as Blockchain, AI, XR, and drones, especially as it pertains to improving education, agriculture, healthcare, and workforce training. 

“It’s critical for business educators to prepare students to not only be business leaders, but to become inspiring servant-leaders with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset,” says Granot. “Students need to understand, first hand, the interconnectivity of the global economy and how they can effectively participate. It will help them as future leaders to create real and lasting value that can grow and sustain their own regional ecosystem, as they do good onto others. 

“Students may read books or hear lectures about international business and innovation, but it’s not the same as actually being immersed in a different culture, hearing directly from the leaders, and seeing the organizations and operations first-hand. I have successfully implemented various international components into business programs throughout my career as an investor and an educator. It enriched the students’ experience and enabled them to cultivate a global outlook that enhanced their local point of view. It’s a win-win for higher education and the future of work.

“We’re moving towards a tech-dominant service and knowledge economy,” continued Granot. “All enterprises will make use of emerging technology, so it’s incumbent upon educators at all levels to help students embrace tech development, understand data analytics, and to promote innovation as part of the culture.

“I’m prioritizing technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in our business programs at Boler. I’m seeking to infuse all of our business programs with more opportunities for global education and experiential learning. Boler is Cleveland’s business school, and this is the next phase in our mission to create responsible, inspiring leaders for the future–leaders who will be able to capitalize on digital transformation and solve problems that will improve business, the lives of others and our environment.”

Indeed, Dr. Granot has already initiated work to create a student-led venture capital fund in which students will be the decision-makers for entrepreneurial opportunities on a local, regional and global scale. He is also working to revamp the way in which graduate education is delivered to better address the student population today–seventy-five percent of whom are non-traditional students.

“The global economy is rapidly changing, the workplace is changing and, as the saying goes, we can’t keep doing things the way we’ve always done them and expect a different result,” says Granot. “The student is the consumer and they are feeling the impact of these changes and expecting us to not only respond accordingly, but to push innovation throughout everything we do. So are the employers. It’s time for those of us in higher education to innovate and become intrapreneurial. We must provide more flexible education models so that we can address consumer demand and continue to prepare students to compete globally and build our regional economy. I have every confidence that the faculty, staff and administration are fully equipped to do so with the quality and care that reflects the Jesuit mission, vision and values of John Carroll University and the Boler College of Business.”