The University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship recently named renowned author and business growth expert Verne Harnish the recipient of the 2017 Siegfried Award for Entrepreneurial Leadership.
According to the founding director of Horn Entrepreneurship, Dan Freeman, “The award selection criteria focus on recognizing anyone who has made outstanding contributions to the understanding and practice of entrepreneurial leadership, which might include entrepreneurs, educators, or consultants.”
There is no question as to whether Harnish has been profoundly influential in the areas Freeman listed. Entrepreneurs are often visionaries in their industries, however Harnish is a pioneer in the field of entrepreneurship itself. In 1987, he founded the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO)—formerly the Young Entrepreneurs’ Organization—with 22 former members of the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs. EO is a peer-to-peer network that connects business leaders around the globe. Harnish also serves as CEO of Gazelles, which specializes in coaching and global executive education.
Harnish earned his BS in mechanical engineering before pursuing his MBA from Wichita State University. Harnish is also a columnist in Fortune magazine, and also writes “The Growth Guy,” a syndicated column that explores avenues of business expansion and the challenges that might present themselves along the way. He has also authored bestselling books, including “Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t” and “Mastering the Rockerfeller Habits.”
Robert L. Siegfried, CEO and founder of The Siegfried group and advisory board chair for UD’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, originated the Siegfried Award for Entrepreneurial leadership. Siegfried felt that Harnish was the ideal candidate for the honor for both objective and personal reasons.
“I’ve had the pleasure of learning from and working with Verne, and his contributions to the field of entrepreneurial leadership are so important,” Siegfried said. “Verne helped me clarify the kind of leader I wanted to be and he continues to do that for countless others every day.”
The Siegfried Group was established in 1988, and the CPA firm has since made its mission to help financial executives hone their leadership skills while supporting companies working through challenging projects.