Universal Business Innovation and Sustainability College

A graduate of the University of Cambridge (MPhil and Phil), my first academic role was as a Director of Studies at the University of Oxford. At Oxford my role was to run executive leadership programmes. This put me in touch with members of the investment community and high net worth individuals who we keen to explore investing in University of Oxford spinouts. My role at Oxford evolved into evaluating research that was being spun out of the University and liaising with potential investors. After leaving Oxford in 2002, I then worked for a number of business schools, Kent, as a lecturer in strategy and international business and the UWE as a senior lecturer in strategy and international business. I started my own strategy consulting businesses in 2006 and secured Russian and Malaysian government contracts in research commercialization and the development of market access strategies. This company was short listed for the Queens award for international business in 2015. This company is still supporting clients across the globe. My company took an investment position in a client’s company in the UK from 2018 to 2022 which we scaled and exited via a trade sale to a consortium for a six-figure sum. That parent company of that business was later acquired in 2023 for $225 million. From 2022, I was asked to join the US investment firm, the Hamilton White Group Switzerland and lead a turn around of one of their Universities. I helped lead their Swiss then later US accreditation efforts and redesigned their DBA programme turning it from loss making to a highly successful (highest revenue generating award) for that University. In 2023 I joined the IDM group in the UAE. IDM is TNE provider. Upon joining the group, I was able to expand their portfolio of UK University partners from two to five. As part of this role, I created the IDM accelerator hub. The January 2023, we created an accelerator hub for both our students and for local entrepreneurs to access this centre and its eco system in support of improving local business success, ensuring equality of access for community stakeholders, (even if they are not IDM students) and improving diversity in the local economy. The accelerator provides hub a range of resources such as access to literature on starting, scaling and exiting businesses, provides a safe tolerant space for would be entrepreneurs to explore / enhance their value proposition and ascertain how their business idea can be developed into a commercially viable product our service. They can also seek support from mentors, be they IDM students, or our accelerator mentors who are drawn from the investment (Venture Capital), legal, business development, marketing and branding and technopreneur communities. In support of the accelerator hub, IDM works with the Ajman Free Zone authorities in support of pre and post business licencing for our spin outs. The team also began to build connectivity with other hubs such as Imperial’s Enterprise Hub (Ben Mumby Croft), Warwick Innovation (Dr Tim Hart) , Spark (TAR UMT Malaysia) Cyens Cyrus (Dr Olga Shvarova) and PUC Minas in Brazil. Please see supporting documentation

Lenora Spicer (PhD ’19) studies the history of African American women in leadership positions in academic institutions. Her research focuses on the future development of career advances in management and diversity practices that will result in increased representation of African American female faculty to advance to senior leadership in higher education.

Lenora is a native of Michigan and before pursuing her PhD she received a Bachelor of Sociology degree from Central State University (1997) and a Master of Arts Education of Instruction at Central Michigan University (2005). Her Master’s thesis focused on curriculum and instruction. Her dissertation is a historical analysis of the underrepresentation of minority women.

Before working in higher education, Lenora worked in Corrections as a Parole Officer for the 3rd Circuit Court as a Court Appointed Officer representing the Michigan Department of Corrections. In addition, she has spent the last 17 years working in Higher Education in various leadership positions ranging from faculty member to Director, volunteering, mentoring women, and serving as a champion in her community to promote equality.

lenora.spicer@yahoo.com

Driven by curiosity and a strategic mindset, I am dedicated to empowering individuals and organisations to achieve meaningful and lasting results. With over a decade of diverse experience in higher education, management, and international development, I bring a rich blend of expertise that bridges education, organisational growth, and impactful change.

My background spans educating, curriculum design, strategic planning, program implementation, people operations, and mentoring, complemented by strong skills and expertise in communications, entrepreneurship, and crisis management. This combination enables the development of innovative solutions and fosters collaboration, driving the achievement of impactful goals.

Passionate about continuous learning and collaboration, I thrive in dynamic environments where diverse ideas converge to tackle complex challenges. Committed to driving positive change, I focus on building stronger institutions, empowering individuals, and inspiring others to unlock their full potential.

I am a motivated and dedicated professional educator with over 30 years of diverse experience in Education, Training and Development, Coaching, Management, and Leadership. I earned my Doctor in Business Administration from Walden University. My research explored strategies to increase employee engagement in organizations with a focus on manufacturing businesses. Beyond my role as an educator, I work with leaders of local companies to implement employee engagement initiatives to increase productivity in their organizations. I am passionate about community service and actively participate in Fundraising activities and promoting wellness education for the American Cancer Society, and other charitable organizations.

Mr. Leonard has more than 20 years of experience in banking, business management, business development, domestic and international sales, financial aid, enrollment management, academic faculty leadership, student services, curriculum development and higher education instruction. Since 2018, Mr. Leonard has served as Academic Dean of Distance Education, Academic Dean of Residential Campus, Director of Student Success, Academic Support Coordinator, and Learning Management Systems Administrator. Key career expertise include faculty management; student services; student success; enrollment and financial aid management; C suite executive and business owner sales; call center development; account management; curriculum development; customer service; learning management system development (Canvas); international sales national account management; payroll; human resource sales; instructor of business studies and college success; property management sales; and marketing development.

Mr. Leonard earned his Bachelor of Science, Business Administration from Arizona Christian University (2001); Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Ottawa University (2004) and currently working on his Doctorate of Business Administration, Strategic Management from Liberty University.

With a proven track record of leading financial transformations and enhancing operational efficiency, Shannyn is well-equipped to guide UBIS into its next phase of transformation. She has been an integral part of UBIS, serving first as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and then as Chief Operating Officer (COO).  Her leadership in these roles has been pivotal in driving financial stability and operational excellence at the university.

Shannyn has held significant roles at several higher education institutions, including Aspen University, Brookline College, and Remington College, where she served as Chief Financial Officer. In these roles, her strategic insights and financial acumen have consistently led to improved institutional performance and student outcomes.

With her extensive background in the school business Shannyn is poised to drive innovation and strategic development at UBIS, ensuring we continue to deliver high-quality education to our global community.

A graduate of the University of Cambridge (MPhil and Phil), my first academic role was as a Director of Studies at the University of Oxford. At Oxford my role was to run executive leadership programmes. This put me in touch with members of the investment community and high net worth individuals who we keen to explore investing in University of Oxford spinouts. My role at Oxford evolved into evaluating research that was being spun out of the University and liaising with potential investors. After leaving Oxford in 2002, I then worked for a number of business schools, Kent, as a lecturer in strategy and international business and the UWE as a senior lecturer in strategy and international business. I started my own strategy consulting businesses in 2006 and secured Russian and Malaysian government contracts in research commercialization and the development of market access strategies. This company was short listed for the Queens award for international business in 2015. This company is still supporting clients across the globe. My company took an investment position in a client’s company in the UK from 2018 to 2022 which we scaled and exited via a trade sale to a consortium for a six-figure sum. That parent company of that business was later acquired in 2023 for $225 million. From 2022, I was asked to join the US investment firm, the Hamilton White Group Switzerland and lead a turn around of one of their Universities. I helped lead their Swiss then later US accreditation efforts and redesigned their DBA programme turning it from loss making to a highly successful (highest revenue generating award) for that University. In 2023 I joined the IDM group in the UAE. IDM is TNE provider. Upon joining the group, I was able to expand their portfolio of UK University partners from two to five. As part of this role, I created the IDM accelerator hub. The January 2023, we created an accelerator hub for both our students and for local entrepreneurs to access this centre and its eco system in support of improving local business success, ensuring equality of access for community stakeholders, (even if they are not IDM students) and improving diversity in the local economy. The accelerator provides hub a range of resources such as access to literature on starting, scaling and exiting businesses, provides a safe tolerant space for would be entrepreneurs to explore / enhance their value proposition and ascertain how their business idea can be developed into a commercially viable product our service. They can also seek support from mentors, be they IDM students, or our accelerator mentors who are drawn from the investment (Venture Capital), legal, business development, marketing and branding and technopreneur communities. In support of the accelerator hub, IDM works with the Ajman Free Zone authorities in support of pre and post business licencing for our spin outs. The team also began to build connectivity with other hubs such as Imperial’s Enterprise Hub (Ben Mumby Croft), Warwick Innovation (Dr Tim Hart) , Spark (TAR UMT Malaysia) Cyens Cyrus (Dr Olga Shvarova) and PUC Minas in Brazil. Please see supporting documentation

Director of Delivery Innovation

I am a seasoned educator and instructional designer with over two decades of experience in private post-secondary education. Throughout my career, I have demonstrated exceptional expertise in curriculum development, having authored numerous associate and bachelor's degree programs and three master's level programs and courses. For more than eight years, I served as Associate Dean for Medical Specialties, Healthcare Administration, Business Management, and Computer Science, where I oversaw academic excellence and innovation across diverse disciplines. In the past six years, I have specialized in instructional design and educational technology, working across various learning management systems to enhance educational delivery. my deep expertise lies in Canvas, where I excel in integrating and developing tools to create robust, student-centered learning experiences while simplifying teaching processes for faculty. I am passionate about advancing education through technology, dedicated to crafting engaging and efficient learning environments that empower both students and educators.

With over 25 years of academic and corporate experience, I have established myself as a dedicated senior lecturer, researcher, and executive leader. Educated at prestigious institutions including universities in Colombo, Peradeniya, Osaka, Toronto, and the UK, my expertise spans multiple disciplines, from business administration to theology and physics.

Currently serving as the Vice Chancellor at the Institute of Knowledge Academia in Colombo, Sri Lanka, I also hold the position of Associate Dean at BMS - Business Management School. Previously, I was the Deputy Vice Chancellor of IDM Campus and have held executive roles such as CEO and Chief Academic Officer at IDM Campus, Group CEO & Senior Director at Adam Investments PLC, and Country Head of Xerox Sri Lanka.

My academic contributions include lecturing for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs at institutions such as the University of Gloucestershire and Lincoln University College. I have mentored post-graduate students, supervised dissertations, and pioneered innovative teaching methodologies.

An accomplished researcher and speaker, I have presented at conferences worldwide, including CEO and CIO forums in Asia and SAARC nations. Recognized for my contributions, I have received awards from esteemed leaders, including the King of Bhutan and the King of Japan. My future research aims to incorporate an Asian perspective into business and technological advancements.

Lenora Spicer (PhD ’19) studies the history of African American women in leadership positions in academic institutions. Her research focuses on the future development of career advances in management and diversity practices that will result in increased representation of African American female faculty to advance to senior leadership in higher education.

Lenora is a native of Michigan and before pursuing her PhD she received a Bachelor of Sociology degree from Central State University (1997) and a Master of Arts Education of Instruction at Central Michigan University (2005). Her Master’s thesis focused on curriculum and instruction. Her dissertation is a historical analysis of the underrepresentation of minority women.

Before working in higher education, Lenora worked in Corrections as a Parole Officer for the 3rd Circuit Court as a Court Appointed Officer representing the Michigan Department of Corrections. In addition, she has spent the last 17 years working in Higher Education in various leadership positions ranging from faculty member to Director, volunteering, mentoring women, and serving as a champion in her community to promote equality.

lenora.spicer@yahoo.com

Dr. Femina Syed (Ph.D., MBA, MBE, BBA, DIM, PGDIM, PGDHRM) Dr. Femina Syed is an accomplished academic and researcher with over 21 years of teaching, training, and research experience. She specialises in HR analytics and Analytics Training and has a professional degree in HR and analytics from the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode. She has taught a wide range of subjects at the MBA, DBA, and undergraduate levels, including Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Strategic Planning, HR Analytics, and Leadership Development. She is currently associated with prominent institutions, guiding doctoral and postgraduate students in business administration. Her seminal doctoral research, funded by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), explored the relationship between ambidextrous culture and product innovation in software development organizations (SDOs). Her research focuses on organizational behaviour, ambidexterity, human resource management, and innovation. She has published extensively in indexed journals and presented at international conferences, emphasizing topics such as ambidextrous culture, product innovation, and leadership. Dr. Syed has also received awards for her academic contributions, including the Indo Asian Award for Distinguished Professor and the Best Woman Academician of the Year. Recent notable publications include an article in Employee Relations (Emerald, ABDC B Category, Scopus Q1) analyzing employees’ qualitative narratives on quiet quitting. Additionally, her collaborative work on blended learning systems has been presented at international conferences, such as the ICEDS at the University of Hawaii. Areas of Research Interests: Ambidexterity and Digital Innovation: Exploring how digital transformation and Industry 5.0 technologies impact organizational ambidexterity, particularly in fostering sustainable innovation in competitive industries. Leadership and Impostor Syndrome: Examining the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and psychological factors like self-efficacy in shaping impostor syndrome, particularly among women leaders navigating Industry 5.0 landscapes. Generational Engagement with Technology: Conducting comparative studies on digital media use and its implications for learning and productivity among Alpha and Z generations in diverse cultural contexts, including the UAE, India, and Germany.

Dr. Carol Jo Sommers is a highly accomplished academic and business professional with a rich educational background, including a Ph.D. in Business Administration from National University, MBA from the University of Dublin, Trinity College in Ireland and a Business Finance degree from California State University, Fullerton. Her career spans various roles across the US and Europe, showcasing her expertise in leadership, human resources, management, and operations.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Sommers is deeply committed to community engagement. She has served on the board of the Consortium of Southern California Colleges and Universities and the finance committee of the Beach Cities Health District. Her dedication to excellence, operational effectiveness, and community service underscores her strategic vision and leadership, making her an asset in every role she undertakes.

Cole McEuen is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with 4 years of experience in financial accounting and auditing. Cole is known for his attention to detail and enjoys improving himself and the organizations he works in. Cole prides himself on high-quality work and professionalism. Cole seeks opportunities to apply his skills and knowledge.

Cole is a Senior Internal Auditor for Axon, a public technology and manufacturing company added to the S&P 500 in 2023. Cole reviews internal controls over the order-to-cash, inventory, fixed assets, treasury, and payroll processes. Cole also performs business audits based on requests from the Board of Directors including contract approval, executive expense report testing, and laptop retrieval process among others.

Cole is a professor at the University of Business, Innovation, and Sustainability (UBIS), where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business, and Marketing. Cole is passionate about education and committed to providing valuable and impactful learning experiences for students.

Cole holds a Master's degree in Accountancy from Utah Valley University, and a Bachelor's degree in Accountancy from Brigham Young University - Provo, and is a licensed CPA. Cole's dual expertise in professional accounting and academic instruction positions him as a well-rounded expert.

Professor Kalani Rice, I am originally from Tucson, Arizona, and relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, to obtain my bachelor's degree. I have lived in the greater Phoenix area ever since. I have a Master's in Adult Education and an MBA in human resource management. I have worked in the business for the last 20 years and look forward to sharing my experiences with my students. I enjoy taking strength training classes and hiking. I also love spending time with my husband, sons, and daughter, reading books, watching movies, and enjoying the outdoors when the weather permits. I am now a Program Manager at my alma mater. I manage the operations and program implementation of large-scale projects.

Naiara Rodriguez-Pena is a postdoctoral researcher exploring the consequences of unfulfilled migration aspirations for individuals, families and societies. She has worked for projects investigating the migration-development nexus, the drivers of migration (aspirations) over time, and the links between migration aspirations, capabilities, adaptation and a variety of factors, including political, economic, cultural and demographic transformations. Her research has won the IMISCOE’s 2023 Rinus Penninx Best Paper Award and the APSA’s 2024 Best Dissertation Award on Migration and Integration.

Dr. James Booker’s journey into higher education was a transition from a successful career in local and state government, spanning over two decades. With a commitment to fostering education and leadership, he initially joined UBIS as the Graduate Dean of the University of the Potomac. However, his expertise and dedication led him to a teaching role within UBIS’s doctoral programs.