Albert Segars
PNC Distinguished Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship
With expertise in the areas of innovation and technology management, Al Segars brings the perspective of strategic change to the challenges of adopting and using new technology and business processes. He has applied this expertise to new products, business models and supply chains for many of the most innovative organizations throughout the world.
His research interests include technology management, new media, strategic planning for new technology, design for sustainability and financial and operational metrics of new technology. He also examines how firms create effective innovation, invention and proof-of-concept processes for the design of products and services.
Dr. Segars is the author of “Ideas and Innovative Organizations” (Peter Lang International, 2020). He describes a tribal approach to innovation found in organizations, projects and historical initiatives that is driven by groups of people that have an ambitious mandate, positive values or codes of conduct, well-defined roles, robust flows of knowledge, the ability to endure hardship, an analytical focus, and a willingness to sacrifice. Together, these attributes signal a favorable predisposition to discover breakthrough ideas and navigate difficult projects.
Dr. Segars is the chairperson of the board and faculty lead of the NC Policy Collabratory (NCPC), which the North Carolina General Assembly established in 2016 to utilize and disseminate the research expertise across the University of North Carolina System for practical use by state and local government. In May 2020, the NCPC was awarded $29 million from the state of North Carolina for COVID-19 research. Since its inception, the NCPC has managed more than $60 million in research projects.
Dr. Segars served as faculty director of the Center for Sustainable Enterprise at UNC Kenan-Flagler from 2004-2018.
He is an active consultant Apple, Disney, Pixar, The Children’s Television Workshop (Sesame Workshop), The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Red Hat and IBM. He also serves as a speaker and expert for state and federal governments on technology, innovation and project management.
He received his PhD from the University of South Carolina in technology management with minors in international finance and corporate strategy, his MBA from UNC-Chapel Hill and his BS from UNC-Charlotte.
