“The thrill of teaching is when the light turns on!”
Douglas Steck taught high school math, coached football and basketball, migrating into the corporate world where he held numerous executive positions. He now brings that experience to teaching a wide variety of courses in the Carson College of Business at WSU Vancouver. Doug adds value to the curricula with 25 years experience in corporate strategy, sales, operations, finance and information technology, sharing clues and insights that make companies truly successful. Students blend this experience with information, content, theory, and practice from other courses with emphasis on becoming a professional in the business world.
Doug’s sports metaphor sees himself as a “utility player” teaching marketing, ethics, finance, strategy, negotiation, and a capstone course that highlights both his career and personal satisfaction of watching students’ faces when the light turns on! In the capstone course, student teams of 3-4 consult with a client to provide concrete recommendations often involving growth, efficiencies, new products, or other goals stated by the client. Projects are validated with quantitative data while local business representatives mentor student groups. This course is a synthesis of what’s important in successful businesses; people, adding value from multiple resources, and focus on what truly makes a difference.
Doug sees his teaching evolving. He’d like to expand experiential learning by asking students to play the role of manager in business enterprises as they grapple with fundamental concepts. He stays relevant by coaching executives and enjoys consulting with start-up companies.
Courses Taught: Marketing; Negotiations; Small Business, Policy, & Strategy; Strategy Formation