Karel J. Samsom Ph.D.

70 S. Winooski Avenue (802) 363-4203

Burlington, Vermont 05401 USA ksa4e630@westpost.net

Senior Executive
Entrepreneur, Consultant & Corporate Leader, Academic
Strategic change leader with 30+ years of experience guiding organizations, deve
loping programs, communications and aactionsa designed to fulfill their identifi
ed mission. Broad experience in the application of systemic and interdisciplinar
y methodologies in business, educational organizations and in individual coachin
g.
Pioneer in the field of sustainability and how to systemically integrate economy
, ecology and entrepreneurship education into business, academics and society at
large. Additional practical experience launching successful business ventures.

Leadership Experience
FourEes Associates, Burlington, Vermont/ Venice, California 1986 - present

The mission of FourEes is to put entrepreneurial, educational, economic and ecol

ogical values and practices into action in business and educational communities.
These considerations can, in the long term, improve client relationships and pr
ofitability while decreasing the pollution and other negative side effects of co
nsumptive and productive behavior in general. FourEes provides consulting servic
es to clients interested in moving from a solely economic management focus to on
e which also integrates entrepreneurship, educational and / or ecological values
. FourEes also designs and launches actual businesses integrating the FourEes.
Consultant, seminar leader and public speaker: Working in cooperation with senio
r consultants and experienced coaches. Objective: Improving organizational and p
ersonal performance based on a combination of economic, ecological and entrepren
eurial values, skills and knowledge.
Examples:
FloraHolland: For the largest fresh flower distribution operation in the world,
co-designed and delivered with business partner Tanno Bregonje an executive semi
nar on how to achieve full integration of specific strategic, organizational, ec
ological and economic goals across all recent acquisitions and mergers.
Unilever: Coached with business partner Tanno Bregonje executives of this food a
nd household products multinational on how to clarify their own personal values,
embed these values into the organization, and develop strategies across all fun
ctions to make their values an inherent part of their brand thus catapulting buy
er motivation and company performance.
Stageholding: Assisted this rapidly growing live theatre operator with multiple
European locations to seamlessly integrate the expectations of audiences, employ
ees and owners with both the monetary and intangible perceived values of the co
mpany.

New Venture Creation

2007- to date: The Venice Beach Eco Cottages (Venice Beach, CA) www.venisbeachec
ocottages.com): Co-founder. Restored 1920as era historic vacation rental beach
cottages integrating green building and sustainable materials and processes. So
lar, non-off gassing materials, low energy appliances, insulation, natural venti
lation, restored furniture, v.o.c free materials, paints and plumbing, indigenou
s garden designs, high quality, innovative design. Gained world wide media atten
tion: the cottages were featured in 60+ United States, European and Asian magaz
ines, newspapers and TV shows. including the Financial Times of London, Sundanc
e Channel, and NBC).

1991- 1994 Ergomedics (Winooski, VT): Co-founded with an orthopedic specialist

MD and internationally commercialized patented chair product targeting the low
back pain consumer market. Organized, staffed, and raised funding for product m
anufacture and launch. Co-designed multi-channel marketing programs which penet
rated medical, automobile, airline and other office markets and industries.
1987 a" 1989 Psychemedics Corporation (Santa Monica, CA): Co-founded this biote
chnology company and successfully guided the company through an initial public o
ffering process (NASDAQ) with significant capital gain. Developed, implemented
and ran initial business operations covering marketing, administration and sales
of a new, proprietary, diagnostic drug abuse testing process. Recruited, train
ed new management and professional staff.
Corporate Executive Positions
Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX & Zug, Switzerland 1980
a" 1986
Leading manufacturer of ophthalmic pharmaceuticals and devices.
General Manager, Vice President Optics
Developed the division, planned and orchestrated the divestiture of this produc
t line to Ciba Geigy, Basel, Switzerland.
Controller Europe, Middle East, Africa
Managed the finances surrounding the acquisitions of four contact lens companie
s.
Eli Lilly & Company, London, England, Strasbourg, France, Indianapolis,
1972 a" 1980
Major global pharmaceutical company.
Director of Finance & Administration (Elizabeth Arden / Parfums-Lagerfeld divisi
on)
Member of team that unified 6 country based product lines into one uniform prod
uct line.
Director of Finance & Administration (pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in F
rance)
Internal Consultant (Eli Lilly International London & Indianapolis Corporate H
eadquarters)

HIGHER EDUCATION EXPERIENCE

Universiteit Nyenrode, Breukelen, The Netherlands 1991 - present
Private graduate business as well as accounting school and a continuing educatio
n division for business executives.
Professor of Entrepreneurship, Full Professor p.t & f.t. 1991 - present
Deliver innovative entrepreneurship instruction to diverse groups of M.B.A. an
d Executive M.B.A. students as well as former B.A. students. Coordinate and init
iate executive seminars to enhance business growth for client companies. Origina
te and revise curriculum and student activities to effectively optimize learning
processes.
Courses taught: Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Social Entrepreneurship, Envir
onmental Entrepreneurship, Economics and Ecological Economics. Management and Ex
ecutive Seminars.
Dean, M.B.A and Executive M.B.A. Programs f.t. 1997 - 2000
Spearheaded re-development and updating of M.B.A. and Executive M.B.A. curriculu
m, including degree quality and accreditation. Coordinated activities of 5 profe
ssionals to improve expertise and fuel performance.

Provided expert instruction on strategic development, consensus building, con

tinuous process improvement, new business development, board relations and exec
utive presentations.
Chaired annual competition for the best entrepreneurial company in The Nether
lands based on innovation, management, personnel policies and networking capabil
ities and success.
Co-created and partnered with the Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Nort
hwestern University) a successful M.B.A. program for high potential young execut
ives including study in S. Africa as well as the U.S. and The Netherlands.
Developed and provided oversight for an Executive M.B.A. partnership with Simon
Graduate School of Business (University of Rochester). Developed and implemented
modules in personal development and sustainable corporate citizenship.
Member University Management Board 1997 - 2000
With University President Mrs Neelie Kroes, Dean and business executives, design
ed programs and curriculi to ensure M.B.A. students were engaged with the practi
ce of management and real business problems in entrepreneurial and corporate bus
iness environments.
University of Vermont, Environmental Program, School of Business 1990 a
" present Teach Sustainable Business, Entrepreneurship and Innova
tion & Ecological Economics for executive, graduate and undergraduate students.
p.t.
Fordham University, Graduate School of Business, New York City 20
04
Teach Entrepreneurship and Environmental Economics to graduate students. f.t.
Bren Graduate School of Environmental Science and Management,
University of California, Santa Barbara 2002 a"20
03 Teach Sustainable Marketing and Sustainable Entrepreneurship to undergraduate
and graduate business, economics, engineering and environmental science student
s. f.t.
Burlington College, Burlington, VT 1992 a"1993
Entrepreneurship, Economics and Ecology to undergraduate adult students. p.t.
BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERSHIPS
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, Montpelier, Vermont 2000 a" 2002
Non-profit which uses early stage grant funding and technical assistant to catal
yze and accelerate the development of markets for sustainably produced goods and
services.
Chair (2002) & Board Member
Identified investments in networks of companies and co-operatives pursuing envir
onmental sustainability. Managed selection procedures to guarantee all foundatio
n goals were met.
Developed and implemented economic growth strategies, job creation and environme
ntal management in Vermont.
Facilitated process of identifying and selecting grantees based on potential to
generate economic growth with minimal externalization effects.
Ensured grantees would create sustainable jobs to match the environmental econom
ic development objectives of the State of Vermont.
M.J. Moolenaar & Zonen, Sassenheim, The Netherlands 1997- 2000
Family owned floral producer and exporter.
Member, Supervisory Board
Assisted this privately held corporation in preparation and successful execution
of its merger with another major company.
Vermont International Film Foundation, Burlington, VT 1987 - 2003
World's oldest and award winning human rights and environmental film festival.
Board Member, Executive, Co-founder and Advisor
Ergomedics Inc 1991- 1994
Psychemedics Corporation 1987- 1989

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Ph.D., Science-Based Entrepreneurship
Nyenrode University, The Netherlan
ds
Master of Business Administration, Management & Organization
Wharton, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
BSc Economics (honors)
University of Groningen, The Nether
lands
Ely Lilly Executive Management Seminar
Harvard Business Scho
ol
LANGUAGES AND CITIZENSHIPS
United States of America & The Ne
therlands
Fluent English and Dutch, conversational French & Ger
man
PUBLICATIONS
Books, Peer Reviewed Papers, Articles & Reports
Gurdon, Michael A., Samsom, Karel J., 2009, A Longitudinal Study of Success and
Failure among Scientist-started New Ventures (Technovation, accepted for publica
tion)
Nandram, S.S., Samsom, Karel J. The Human Factor in Designing a Sustainable Oppo
rtunity, The 2008 Small Business Institute Journal, http://sbaer.uca.edu/sbij_jo
urnal_v1_2008.pdf.
Samsom, Karel J. 2008, Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Challenge and Opportunity,
in The Entrepreneur & the Entrepreneurship Cycle, Van Gorkum, 2008.
Nandram, Sharda, Samsom, Karel J., The Spirit of Entrepreneurship, Exploring the
Essence of Entrepreneurship Through Personal Stories , Springer 2006.
Gurdon, Michael A., Samsom, Karel J., 2004, A Longitudinal Study of Success and
Failure among Scientist-started Ventures, Babson-Kaufman Entrepreneurship Confer
ence & Proceedings, 2004
Samsom, Karel J., Nandram, S.S., 2001, Het Onderzoek: Hoe Ondernemend is Nederla
nd? De Succesvolle Ondernemer, Ondernemers vertellen over succes en falen, Minis
terie van Economische Zakem en NVP. (The Research: How Entrepreneurial is The Ne
therlands? Chapter in The Successful Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurs talk about succ
ess and failure, Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Dutch Society of V
enture Capital.
Samsom, Karel J., 2001: A Glimpse of the Future of Venturing: Rapidly Growing Op
portunities in Sustainable Entrepreneurship! Waar Ook Ter Wereld.
Nandram, S.S. , Samsom, K.J. , 2000: Succesvol Ondernemen: eerder een kwestie va
n karakter dan van Kennis (Successful entrepreneurship: more a question of chara
cter than of knowledge), Netherlands Ministry of Economics and the Dutch Society
of Venture Capital, Universiteit Nyenrode, Breukelen, The Netherlands
Nandram, S.S., Samsom, K.J., 2000: Persoonlijkheid en Ondernemerssucces(R), Eco
nomische Statistische Berichten, 85e jaargang N 4271 September, blz. 717-719. (P
ersonality and Entrepreneurial Success, in Dutch reviewed journal)
Nandram, S.S., Samsom, K.J., 2000: Personal Characteristics and Success as an En
trepreneur, Conference 2-4 November 2000, Washington, Association of Public Poli
cy Analysis and Management (APPAM).
Samsom, K.J. 1999: Sustainable Venturing: The case for Entrepreneurship in a Cos
t-Externalising Economy, Nyenrode University Press, Breukelen.
Samsom,K.J. 1994: Teaching Environmental Entrepreneurship(R), In Business, Volum
e 16, No. 6

Samsom, K.J., Gurdon, M.A., 1993: University Scientists as Entrepreneurs: A Spec

ial Case of Technology Transfer and High-Tech Venturing, Technovation, Spring 19
93

Samsom, K.J., Bomers, G.B.J., Gurdon, M.A., 1991: Ondernemende Wetenschappers: E

rvaringen van door Wetenschappers gestarte aHigh-Tech Bedrijven(R), M&O, Septemb
er-October (Entreprising Scientists, Experiences in Scientist-started High-techF
irms, published in Dutch reviewed journal)
Samsom, K.J., 1991: Scientists as Entrepreneurs: Organizational Performance in S
cientist-started Ventures, Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Samsom, K.J., 1991: How to Channel the Scientistas Creativity into a Successful
Venture(R), Venture Capital Journal.
Samsom, K.J., Gurdon, M.A., 1991: Entrepreneurial Scientists: Organizational Per
formance in Scientist-Started High Technology Firms, 1990 Frontiers of Entrepren
eurship, Babson College, Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Samsom, K.J., Herbison,B., Europeas Pay Package, Management Today
Samsom, K.J., The Environmental Aspects of the International Firm in the Future
, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.