When Mike Fisher began his undergraduate studies at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he regularly heard about The Long Gray Linea phrase that referenced the lifelong ties that bind every graduate.
Its like a feedback loop, Fisher explained. Youre part of this when you graduate, but its really important you continue to come backwhether thats in teaching, mentoring, giving or just sharing your perspective.
The phrase has inspired Fisher, PhD (MGT '00; GRS '13, management), to stay connected not only to West Point, but the school where he earned his EMBA and PhD degrees: 窪蹋勛圖厙.
The former chief technology officer and current advisor at Etsy is now an entrepreneur in residence at the universitys Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship, an advisor to Weatherhead School of Managements xLab and a former adjunct faculty member. More recently, Fisher and his wife, Ashley, created the Honoring Our Heroes Endowment Fund, a scholarship designated for veterans seeking doctoral degrees in business management.
A former military aviation officer turned engineering executive, Fisher is passionate about bringing the academic and veteran communities together.
[In the military] youre not just taught to be a soldier and not think. As a military leader, you need to be a scholar, Fisher said.
Weatherheads doctoral programs, as Fisher knows from experience, focus on translating research findings into real-world practiceor vice versaproviding an education that is well-suited to veterans with significant career experience.
Thats how a lot of military people are, Fisher said. They are meant to be the warrior-scholar.
Originally published in the summer 2023 issue of Forward Thinking magazine