Carnegie Mellon University

Integrated Innovation Institute

Engineering + Design + Business

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Adrian Ott

Adrian Ott

Adjunct Professor

Address
Mountain View, CA

Bio

Adrian Ott is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and former senior-level tech executive with a proven track record for visionary business strategies that result in exponential revenue. She has led billion-dollar high technology organizations and assisted innovative ventures to identify and commercialize new product opportunity.  Consulting Magazine called her “One of Silicon Valley’s most respected strategists.”  As CEO and founder of a technology services business in 2001, Harvard Business School and NAWBO recognized her as one of the most inspiring leaders in Silicon Valley.

In addition to teaching Product Management and technology venture classes at Carnegie Mellon's Silicon Valley campus, she serves on the National Faculty for the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps.

As an accredited National NSF I-Corps Instructor, she assists cohorts of promising technology entrepreneurs to commercialize deep-science innovations they have developed at top U.S. universities. She has also served in fiduciary and advisory board roles at private for-profit corporations.

Adrian is the award-winning author of two business books that won Best Business Book of the year accolades. She has contributed thought-leading articles to Fast Company, Harvard Business Review and has been featured in national business television, radio, and publications such as Forbes on the latest trends.

Prior to founding her own company, she was an HP executive for more than 15 years serving in functions such as product management, new ventures, strategic alliances, marketing, and software development.  She was recognized in an annual report for “infusing HP with new revenue streams, new technologies, and new business models.” 

  • Commercializing technology
  • Go-to-market strategy and business models
  • Venture management/governance
  • Strategic alliances
  • Product Management
  • Product Management
  • Venture Governance: Boards, Executive Descision-Making, and Communications
  • Master in Business Administration (MBA), Harvard Business School
  • Bachelor of Science, University of California, Berkeley
  • Harvard Business School Most Inspiring Leaders in Northern California, Awarded by the Dean and HBS Alumni Association, 2014
  • Silicon Valley Enterprising Woman of the Year Award, 2011, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-SV) (one honoree per year)
  • California State Business and Leadership Award for a Women-Owned Business, 2011 (NAWBO, California)
  • Editors' Commended Paper Award, 2012, Strategy & Leadership Journal
  • Best Business Book Awards (2), (Exponential Influence: Digital Habits), 2015, Independent Publishers Association and IndieFab
  • The Best Business Book of the Year Award (The 24-Hour Custo HarperBusiness), 2011, USA Book News
  • Best Business Book of the Year Award (The 24-Hour Customer. HarperBusiness), 2010 Library Journal
  • Best Business Book of the Year Award (The 24-Hour Customer, HarperBusiness), 2010 Small Business Trends
  • #1 on Stanford Business School Summer Recommended Reading List, 2012
  • #1 Business Bestseller, Shanghai Daily (China)
  • #1 Business Bestseller, Amazon
  • 50 Marketing Thought Leaders List 2014/2015/2016, Brand Quarterly Magazine
  • 50 Marketing Leaders to Know List. Global CMO Magazine, May 2013
  • Duncan Citation for the highest G.P.A. in major at U.C. Berkeley.