>
Ethan Mollick

Ethan Mollick, PhD

Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar; Associate Professor of Management; Academic Director, Wharton Interactive, The Wharton School

Research Interests:Innovation, entrepreneurship, crowdfunding, games, AI

About Ethan

Ethan Mollick is a Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar and an associate professor of management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship. He is also author of The Unicorn's Shadow: Combating the Dangerous Myths that Hold Back Startups, Founders, and Investors. His papers have been published in top management journals and have won multiple awards. His work on crowdfunding is the most cited article in management published in the last five years.

Prior to his time in academia, Professor Mollick co-founded a startup company, and he currently advises a number of startups and organizations. As the academic director and co-founder of Wharton Interactive, he works to transform entrepreneurship education using games and simulations. He has long had interest in using games for teaching, and he coauthored a book on the intersection between video games and business that was named one of the American Library Association’s top 10 business books of the year. He has built numerous teaching games, which are used by tens of thousands of students around the world.

Professor Mollick received his PhD and MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management and his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, magna cum laude.

Read full faculty bio on Wharton website


Executive Education Programs Taught

Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program: Scaling Your Business

This three-month online certificate program provides entrepreneurs with a proven toolkit that goes beyond the idea. Leveraging Wharton’s strength in data-driven outcomes, learn proven techniques for scaling your business including how to build a team, choose the right legal structure, generate demand, and finance growth.

Generative AI and Business Transformation

The emergence of generative AI has the potential to launch companies into game-changing growth. In order to successfully leverage its potential, you need a comprehensive understanding of generative AI technology, platforms, and large language models — as well as insight into acceptance barriers. Generative AI and Business Transformation leverages thought leadership from the world-renowned AI research center at The Wharton School to provide an in-depth analysis of the technology and transformative capabilities of generative AI. You’ll leave empowered with the knowledge and real-world strategies required to implement successful applications throughout your organization.

RMA/Wharton Advanced Risk Management Program

This program introduces the latest thinking around risk, including, macroeconomic drivers, and equips you with tools to evaluate your exposure. Learn analytical frameworks, strategies, and resources for measuring, managing, and monitoring risk.

The Unicorn's Shadow

The Unicorn’s Shadow

In this book, Ethan Mollick takes us to the forefront of an empirical revolution in entrepreneurship. New data and better research methods have overturned the conventional wisdom behind what a successful founder looks like, how they succeed, and how the startup ecosystem works.