Robert Urstein

Rob Urstein is a lecturer in management at Stanford Graduate School of Business where he teaches courses at the intersection of the future of learning, work, and technology. An experienced academic leader, Urstein has significant professional experience designing and managing academic programs and teams, as well as teaching and advising undergraduates, graduate students, and executives. His teaching, research, and industry experience have largely focused on innovation, technology, lifelong learning, and making education more accessible and equitable for all learners.

He was co-founder of software company Gather Learning (acquired by Mighty Networks), and formerly served as principal at Guild Education, and entrepreneur-in-residence at Entangled Ventures — prior to its acquisition by Guild — where he helped launch education technology ventures to equitably transition society to a knowledge economy.

Urstein spent more than a dozen years in senior leadership roles at Stanford, including a term as Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. At Stanford Graduate School of Business, Urstein led the PhD Program as Assistant Dean, and was Managing Director of Global Innovation Programs, where he managed a portfolio of on-campus and international programs focused on leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In 2000–2001 he was a Fulbright Senior Scholar in Oslo, Norway, working for the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education. He has been at Stanford since 2004.