John Tillery

John is a PhD student in the Rucks Department of Management focusing on strategic management. He received his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from The University of Texas at Austin and his MBA from Texas A&M University. Prior to going into academia, John co-founded a real estate investment and management business in Austin, TX, overseeing more than 300 multifamily apartment units. After receiving his MBA, he went on to work on the corporate development team of an e-commerce company, working in conjunction with the firm's Chief Growth Officer and the M&A team to identify new brand acquisitions. He later was on the team leading the effort to get the company's brands into brick and mortar retailers, growing their sales channel mix. John's research interests include CEO herd mentality, how independent lifestyle brands continue strategic differentiation after being acquired, outcomes related to different executive compensation and corporate board structures, and the effects of cheap capital on corporate strategic direction. Outside of academia, his interests include travel, running, hotels, investing, and real estate.